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WORLD NEWS Monday 10 July 2023

Mexican military to take over airports as president

takes aim at corruption

By MARÍA VERZA
Associated Press
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexi-
co’s armed forces are tak-
ing control of the capital’s
main airport, and the gov-
ernment plans to give the
military control of nearly
a dozen more across the
country as the president
takes aim at corruption
and mismanagement.
President Andrés Manuel
López Obrador has been
setting the armed forces
to a wide range of nontra-
ditional tasks since he was
elected in 2018, creating
concerns about the sepa-
ration of the military from
civilian life. Mexican Navy officers stand guard next to a security checkpoint at the Benito Juarez International
A new airport was built by Airport, in Mexico City, Friday, June 30, 2023.
the army outside Mexico Associated Press
City a year ago at a cost tourist trips to a former pe- own commercial airline. trial of former Public Secu-
of $4.1 billion. It is run by nal colony. The Mexico City takeover rity Secretary Genaro Luna.
the military but little used. The airport, which is used runs contrary to internation- He was convicted of drug
López Obrador says the old by some 4 million travel- al aviation recommenda- trafficking in February.
airport, the country’s busi- ers each month, will be “a tions that clearly distinguish Mexico City has the coun-
est, will be run by the navy. company within a naval between military and civil- try’s most important airport,
The navy took charge of military entity,” Rear Adm. ian, said Rogelio Rodríguez and the navy is the branch
security at Mexico City In- Carlos Velázquez Tiscare- Garduño, an aviation law of Mexican security forces
ternational Airport, or Beni- ño, the airport’s 73-year-old expert at Mexico’s National in which the U.S. authorities
to Juárez, more than a year director, said in a recent in- Autonomous University. But have the most confidence,
ago. It will soon have con- terview. But, he said, “this is the legal consequences of but the U.S. has not com-
trol of everything else, from not going to look like a mili- the move remain unclear. mented on the increasing
customs and immigration tary department.” Earlier this year, Mexico’s power of the Mexican mili-
to handling luggage and Unlike the capital’s other Supreme Court ruled that tary.
cleaning bathrooms, with airport, Felipe Angeles, the transfer of the National “There are various airports
the imminent publication where National Guard Guard from civilian to mili- in the country that have
of a presidential order to troops take passenger tick- tary control was unconsti- had big problems for many
make that official. ets at the gate, at Benito tutional. López Obrador left years, and they had to be
The list of problems at Mex- Juarez the only uniformed the guard under a civilian fixed,” said Velázquez Tis-
ico City Airport has long military are the 1,500 ma- department but with a mili- careño, himself a retired
included major drug ship- rines deployed since Feb- tary operational chief. pilot.
ments and illegal migra- ruary 2022 for security. The While navy operational In the past year, the navy’s
tion. Infrastructure was in rest of the airport personnel control could help some se- security oversight has shut
disrepair, and a number of will be civilians but “with curity issues, experts don’t down some illegal business
close calls were reported clearer rules ... that govern believe it will resolve other inside the airport, improved
on the runways in recent with more order and disci- problems. The U.S. Federal inspections and reduced
years as the airport increas- pline,” Velázquez Tiscareño Aviation Administration stolen luggage, Velázquez
ingly had trouble handling said. downgraded Mexico’s avi- Tiscareño said. Some air-
flights. The navy will form a com- ation safety rating in 2021, port workers confirm that,
The airport also had a repu- pany called Casiopea to preventing Mexican airlines but note too that com-
tation for stolen luggage, run the airport and six oth- from expanding flights to plaints about flight delays
mismanaged airline sched- ers that have “deficiencies” the U.S. continue.
ules, business without con- and are “in the hands of or- FAA safety ratings of other “The navy has put things
tracts and corruption. ganized crime,” Velázquez countries are designed to under greater control, but
Meanwhile, López Obra- Tiscareño said. Among measure those countries’ now we need to see how
dor has gone to the armed them will be Matamoros, oversight of their airlines they’re going to work,” said
forces for help throughout across the border from Tex- but do not mean that the José Beltrán, 72, who picks
his term, giving them some as, and Playa del Carmen airlines are unsafe. up trash at the airport.
immigration duties and on the Gulf of Mexico. In Mexico, corruption got “It’s more peaceful,” said
control of ports and cus- López Obrador has already to the point years ago that Luis Martinez, who’s been
toms. They are also building said that he plans to have a coded messages were working at the airport for 25
major infrastructure proj- dozen airports in the hands sent using airport internal years, helping passengers
ects such as a tourist train of the army or navy by the communications to hold who need wheelchairs.
through the Yucatan Pen- end of his administration in up baggage inspections so But, he said, “people have
insula and a new airport in 2024. And by the end of this drug shipments could pass the same complaints: flight
the same area. They even year, the military is sched- untouched, according to delays and problems with
run plant nurseries and uled to begin operating its testimony during the U.S. luggage.”q