Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 4 July 2019
Mexico federal police rebel against National Guard

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN wherever available and
Associated Press receive little compensation
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hun- to cover their meals.
dreds of Mexican federal Last week, the newly ap-
police were in open re- pointed head of the Na-
volt Wednesday against tional Migration Institute
plans to absorb them into apologized for calling some
the newly formed National federal police officers “fifi”
Guard. or posh when they com-
Federal police at a Mexico plained about difficult con-
City command center de- ditions in the effort to re-
manded a meeting with duce the flow of migration
Mexico’s security secretary, through Mexico toward the
uniformed police blocked United States
a major capital highway in Mexico sent 6,000 guard
front of federal police offic- members to the southern
es and yet another contin- border to assist in that effort
gent blocked the highway and it has sent thousands
between the capital and a more to its northern bor-
state capital, Pachuca, for der to deter illegal border
hours. crossings. López Obrador
The protests came as the said Wednesday that no
government was officially Hundreds of Mexican federal police gather at a police command center in the Iztapalapa federal police would be
starting to deploy the Na- borough, in Mexico City, Wednesday, July 3, 2019, to protest against plans to force them into the fired and that those who
tional Guard to several newly formed National Guard. qualified for the National
states to fight crime and Associated Press Guard would maintain their
control immigration. They are not being recognized ing for the arrival of Alfonso federal police blocked a salary and benefits. He said
threaten to complicate the within the National Guard, Durazo, Mexico’s security major highway, the Periferi- that joining the new force
formation of a new security which is ostensibly a civilian secretary, who oversees co, backing up traffic for a would be voluntary, but
force that President Andrés security force, but whose the federal police and Na- time Wednesday. was vague about what
Manuel López Obrador has hierarchy is heavily military. tional Guard. Trujillo said a And more than 100 uni- would happen to federal
bet Mexico’s future security National Guard Comman- delegation of protesters formed police blocked police who did not.
on. dant Patricia Rosalinda Tru- would be taken to speak the highway connecting Critics say the immigration
The National Guard is initial- jillo Mariel, one of the few with Durazo. the capital and Pachuca enforcement mission could
ly being formed by military leaders of the new force Police officer Alejandra near Ecatapec. Traffic was distract the force from its
police and federal police who came from the fed- Baez Villanueva said the backed up for miles in both primary responsibility of
but is also signing up new eral police, was jostled by police need their jobs to directions. Some bus pas- getting a handle on violent
recruits. López Obrador has the crowd as she came to support their families. sengers walked from one crime.
been consistently dismis- meet the protesters and “We aren’t protesting, side of the blockade to the Mexico is experiencing the
sive of the federal police, asked them to put forward we’re just demanding other looking for transpor- highest number of murders
characterizing it as a failed representatives to talk. our rights,” she said. “We tation to carry them on. is at least 20 years, though
security force, and gave “I am federal police, I re- just want them to respect The demonstrations also re- the rate of the killings has
military officers the bulk of spect the principles of my our seniority, because for vealed a vast difference in stabilized in recent months.
the responsibility for the Na- institution and I want to (members of) the army culture between the feder- For years, Mexico has relied
tional Guard. have a dialogue,” Trujillo and the navy they respect al police and military. When on the military to confront
Protesting police at the shouted over the crowd. it and for us as federal po- federal police officers are organized crime, in some
command center in the One police representative lice they don’t.” deployed they are typi- cases even disbanding
capital’s Iztapalapa bor- who stepped forward with- In front of federal police of- cally put up in hotels. When municipal police forces be-
ough said that their se- out identifying himself said fices in Mexico City, anoth- the military is operating out- cause they were thorough-
niority, rank and benefits the protesters were wait- er contingent of uniformed side its bases, soldiers sleep ly infiltrated.q

Board sues Puerto Rico governor amid economic crisis

By DÁNICA COTO certified budgets. “Puerto Christian Sobrino, the gov-
Associated Press Rico cannot fall back into ernor’s representative on
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) an era of uncontrolled the board. The board also
— A federal control board spending,” board chair- is asking a federal court
overseeing Puerto Rico’s man Richard Carrión said. to bar the local govern-
finances sued the U.S. ter- “This led us into bankruptcy ment from enforcing a law
ritory’s governor Wednes- and resulted in pain and that Rosselló approved
day, saying he refuses to suffering on our island.” last month eliminating the
submit required documents The suit says this “is not obligation of Puerto Rico’s
and has approved tens of the first instance of the 78 municipalities to pay
millions of dollars in unbud- governor misinterpreting the central government
geted spending amid a 13- the scope of his author- for hundreds of millions of
year recession. ity” after Congress created dollars in pension costs re-
The board also accused the board. Rosselló has lated to their own retirees.
Gov. Ricardo Rosselló of long maintained that the Board members said this
signing nearly two dozen board’s powers do not su- would undermine the cen- In this April 24, 2019 file photo, Puerto Rico’s Gov. Ricardo Rossello
joint resolutions to appropri- persede his. tral government’s ability to looks out at lawmakers as he delivers his commonwealth
ate funds for expenditures A spokeswoman for Ros- pay public pensions if it is in address at the seaside Capitol, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
not approved by board- selló referred questions to fiscal distress.q Associated Press