MEXICAN GOVERNMENT REACHES OUT TO CIVIL SOCIETY ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 002342

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MX
SUBJECT: MEXICAN GOVERNMENT REACHES OUT TO CIVIL SOCIETY ON
MERIDA INITIATIVES


1. (SBU) Summary. Continuing to improve its dialogue with
Mexican civil society on security issues and the Merida
Initiative, the GOM convened on August 6 a second open
attendance meeting with NGOs and civil society. The
Secretariat of Government (SEGOB) and the Secretariat of
Foreign Relations (SRE) jointly hosted the forum, with the
Technical Secretary of the National Council Against
Addictions (CONADIC). Embassy section heads and officers
from NAS, USAID, POL, DAO and ODC all participated in
discussing aspects of Merida programming and implementation.
The GOM opened the event to representatives of civil society
and academic institutions who deal with topics related to the
Merida Initiative (MI),such as drug addiction, security,
human rights, justice system reform, and organized crime.
The stated goal of the meeting was to facilitate GOM dialogue
with civil society and better understand civil society
perspectives. This session was the third formal meeting
sponsored by the GOM, with SRE and SEGOB hosting an inaugural
March 2 open meeting and a private gathering on July 7. End
Summary.


2. (SBU) SRE's Merida coordinator Ambassador Benito Andion
stated the GOM seeks to improve dialogue and transparency
between civil society and the U.S. and Mexican governments.
SEGOB and SRE representatives at the event called for true
"back and forth" communication. They emphasized the recently
redesigned MI website hosted by SRE, and pledged to post more
detailed information to it, particularly relating to MI
budget and expenditures. Additionally, GOM representatives
discussed in depth the administration's demand reduction
efforts under Merida, including electronically linking
treatment centers through secure telecommunications systems
and training and certifying private rehabilitation
facilities. CONADIC also noted that the Secretariat of
Health currently sponsors 302 "New Life" drug rehabilitation
centers nationwide and will soon have 329. Following the
GOM's presentations, the Embassy's USAID Director and his
staff provided an overview of the agency's programs in
Mexico, both independent of and related to the MI. NAS
Director provided a comprehensive Merida overview and
highlighted the improvements in GOM-USG cooperation.


3. (SBU) The audience included over 60 investigative and
research-based NGOs (such as FUNDAR),human rights groups
(such as Fundacion Casa Alianza),federal government agencies
(military and civilian),security advocacy groups (including
Mexico Unido Contra la Delincuencia),and press. The open
question and answer session was a mix of procedural
questions, which largely centered on Merida budget and
resource distribution issues, calls for greater emphasis on
demand reduction programs, and a few pointed criticisms
ranging from perceived unwarranted slights to Mexico's human
rights record to allegations that MI may be a pretext for
U.S. meddling in the hemisphere. A press attendee asked
about the status of the 15 percent report and its impact on
Merida funding. Polcouns responded that the 15 percent
report is considered a dialogue with the U.S. Congress rather
than a certification mechanism, noting but noted that
Congress ultimately has funding authority. Many NGOs focused
on the funding criteria and the allocation of Merida
resources, with a view to understanding how they might
participate and qualify for Merida funding for their work.
USAID provided a summary of its budgeting process, and SEGOB
suggested that this and similar information be posted to the
SRE website for broader consumption.


4. (SBU) The event provided an invaluable opportunity to hear
from civil society organizations, particularly those which
are less prominent on the national stage. A representative
from a woman's organization, the Red Nacional de Mujeres
Vigilantes Social, gave a passionate defense of the Mexican
military's work in combating organized crime and noted that
her organization has participated with the military in
patrols in Michoacan State. Other NGO delegates highlighted
the need to observe carefully justice reform efforts in
Chihuahua State to determine what has been successful,
enabling better planning for other states.


5. (SBU) Comment: Coming shortly after the Washington Post's
recent articles on criticism by national and international
NGOs of the GOM's human rights performance in its fight

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against the narco-cartels, this third encounter was both
timely and productive. Senior-level Embassy participation
enhanced both our exposure to and credibility with Mexico's
civil society. The session produced more more positive
cross-talk than aggressive questioning, and evinced a
manifest desire by all participants to continue the mutual
engagement and education process. As Merida moves forward,
ramping up deliveries of hardware and training this fall, the
Embassy plans to hold a series of small, sectoral
conversations with focused subsets of SRE-SEGOB attendees.
We must accept that Washington and international HR groups
will support holding back 15 percent of Merida funding as a
means to leverage improved GOM and SEDENA transparency.
However, relatively few of the Mexican civil society groups
are as strident in this message. The majority simply seek
more information about how to secure funding for their
important work through inclusion in the Merida Initiative.
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 /

FEELEY