The president of the national Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), Alejandra Barrales, met with PRD mayors from across the country to present a plan to combat the violence and insecurity that exists in their municipalities by attacking poverty and marginalization. In the National Meeting of Mayors of the PRD, Barrales also proposed actions for the short- to medium-term for municipalities across the entire country that would increase security measures.
She asked mayors to replicate the social programs that are offered by the municipal government of Mexico City, like home-care medical services and educational resources in the most marginalized communities. In her plan she also proposed to transport the families with greatest necessity to the country’s capital so that they could receive medical attention free of charge at least twice a year.
In order to reduce crime in their municipalities, Barrales proposed that the local governments train their security in the specialized centers that operate in Morelos and Mexico City. She also asked state governments to donate their security equipment, like arms, bulletproof vests, and patrol cars, that are no longer in use but remain in good condition, to their municipalities.
“Our state governments can donate equipment that very often goes without use despite being in working condition,” Barrales said. “This equipment can be put to use in the municipalities that often do not have even a single weapon to defend themselves.”
After a moment of silence in memory of those killed while serving, the spokesperson of the for the National Committee of Mayors of the PRD, Evodio Velázquez, urged for a working group to create a strategy for municipal security.
PRD General Secretary Beatriz Mojica lamented the impunity in the cases of mayors that have been assassinated, allegedly by organized crime, which falls under the jurisdiction of federal authorities. She noted that in the last 10 years, 85 mayors have been killed, five merely in this year, two of which were members of the PRD.
“The investigations that are supposed to get at the root of the homicides often generate false speculations about connections that these political actors have with criminal activities,” Mojica said. “Instead of encouraging people with information to come forward, they seek to discredit victims. We have failed victims across the country and owe it to them to seek action.”
Alejandra Barrales mentioned that with 6,900 homicides more than the previous presidential term, the administration of Enrique Peña Nieto has been by far the most violent.