STAFFDEL QUILTER VISIT TO MICHOACAN: PROGRESS IN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 006027

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/MEX, INR, INL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON MX
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL QUILTER VISIT TO MICHOACAN: PROGRESS IN
STATE, BUT MUCH REMAINS TO BE DONE

REF: MEXICO 06024

Classified By: POLITICAL MINISTER COUNSELOR CHARLES V.BARCLAY. REASON:
1.4 (B),(D).



1. (SBU) Summary: On November 28 and 29, the House Foreign
Affairs staff delegation headed by Peter Quilter spent a day
and a half in Morelia, Michoacan to discuss the impact of the
GOM's counter-narcotics operations in the state and the
Merida Initiative with state officials and NGO
representatives. Both public and private contacts recognized
the overall positive impact Mexican military operations
against narco-cartels were having on the state,s crime
scene, but cautioned that much remains to be done to curb
violence and criminality. With a few caveats, most
interlocutors welcomed the enhanced bilateral law enforcement
cooperation envisioned in the recently announced Merida
Initiative. End Summary.


2. (SBU) After two days of meetings in Mexico City (discussed
in septel),Peter Quilter, House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Professional Staff Member, accompanied by staff members
Melissa Silverman and John Mackey, traveled to the Michoacan
state capital on November 28 to discuss the security
situation and government response in one of Mexico's most
crime-ridden states. The group met with human rights NGOs,
the outgoing state governor, Lazaro Cardenas, as well as with
senior state law enforcement officials.

Rights Groups Recognize Military,s Role in Reducing
Violence, But Criticize "Piecemeal" GOM Approach


3. (SBU) Staffdel Quilter,s first meeting was with four
state human rights organizations. Representatives at the
meeting recognized that the military,s expanded presence in
the state since December 2006 had reduced drug-related
violence, but complained that the GOM,s military offensives
lacked a definitive strategy and was poorly coordinated with
state and local authorities. Moreover, in their judgment,
the GOM,s counter-narcotics operations have resulted in a
"cockroach effect," moving the cartels into other
non-targeted areas. NGO contacts lamented that drug
consumption in the state was rising and very few resources
are spent on prevention and addiction programs.


4. (SBU) Staffdel later met with Victor Manuel Serrato
Lozana, President of the State Human Rights Commission who
described the process by which both the State and National
Human Rights Commissions receive, investigate, and process
complaints. Serrato described the two violation cases
brought against military soldiers in May and said it took
approximately four months for the National Human Rights
Commission (CNDH) to investigate the complaints and issue a
recommendation. In turn, it took the Defense Secretariat
(SEDENA) approximately one month to accept CNDH's
recommendations.

Outgoing Governor Supports GOM Strategy, Merida Initiative


5. (SBU) On November 29, the delegation met with outgoing
Michoacan PRD Governor Lazaro Cardenas Batel who expressed
his firm support for the GOM,s military operations. Gov.
Cardenas said the security situation in Michoacan had
improved significantly due to the presence of military
troops. He also suggested the military operations prompted a
territorial truce between the two major drug cartels.
Finally, he noted that collaboration between the military and
state government elements was good.

6.(C) Delegation-head Peter Quilter expressed his concern
that PRD Governor-elect Leonel Godoy would not be as
supportive of the GOM,s military operations as Cardenas,
administration. Cardenas shared this concern, noting that
many members of his political party did not support the role
of the military in combating the cartels. However, he
suggested that Godoy might develop a new perspective on
military involvement once he inherits the problems of the
state.

7.(C) With respect to the Merida Initiative, Cardenas
expressed his support, but advised the delegation not to
compare it to Plan Colombia, given Mexican sensitivities to

MEXICO 00006027 002 OF 002


what may be perceived as U.S. intervention. Cardenas also
expressed concern that the initiative was packaged together
with funding for Iraq and Afghanistan and suggested that the
USG and/or GOM be ready to explain the budget process should
it become an issue.

State Law Enforcement Officials Praise Military's Role


8. (SBU) The delegation also had separate meetings with State
Attorney General Juan Antonio Magana and State Secretary of
Public Security Jorge Reza Maqueo. Both Magana and Reza told
the delegation that the military was the only government
entity equipped to combat the sophisticated weaponry of the
cartels. Reza said the mountainous terrain in Michoacan made
it if difficult for police to reach areas where the cartels
are active. Responding to a question from the delegation on
the sharing of air assets, Reza said the army would provide
helicopter lifts to SSP elements if they requested it.


9. (SBU) Manga and Reza both commented on the issue of arms
trafficking. Magana said the majority of arms in Michoacan
are coming from the U.S. Reza, on the other hand, said their
biggest concern is with assault rifles (AK-47s),the majority
of which come through the port of Lazaro Cardenas.


10. (SBU) Magana said the military plays the leading role in
the joint operation -- which includes police fresh out of the
academy -- and is necessarily discreet and closed about its
activities. He suggested continued military presence for at
least another three years to allow enough time to reform and
equip federal, state, and local police to deal with the
problem of organized crime and drug-trafficking.


11. Comment: The delegation welcomed their experience in
Michoacan and the opportunity to meet with state
government/law enforcement officials and local civil society
representatives. The delegation expressed optimism about the
Merida Initiative's prospects -- "with a few tweaks" -- to
Michoacan interlocutors. They were also pleased with the
human rights violation investigation time-period and process
described by Serrato. End Comment.


Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American
Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /
GARZA