Cablegate: Talking Public Security in Mexico

VZCZCXRO1884
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #3365 3312350
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 272350Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9195
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFISS/HQS USNORTHCOM
RUEAHLA/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MEXICO 003365

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KCRM SNAR MX
SUBJECT: TALKING PUBLIC SECURITY IN MEXICO

1. (SBU) On 17 November, Poloff attended the Second Forum
for Public Security at the National Autonomous University of
Mexico (UNAM) in Cuernavaca, Morelos sponsored by the
International Republican Institute (IRI) and UNAM's Law and
Social Science Department. The 200 seat auditorium was
filled to standing room only with a diverse cross section of
students, government officials and NGOs. The two-day
conference concentrated on police and justice initiatives and
relied on participation by a similar diverse mix of public
officials, academics, NGOs, and diplomats.

2. (SBU) The conference commenced with opening remarks by
the Head of the Law and Social Science Department, Dr
Gabriela Mendizabal Bermudez, the Ambassador of Columbia to
Mexico, Dr. Luis Camilo Osorio, the Undersecretary for Human
Rights from the Federal Police, Lic. Alejandro Monte Rubio,
and the Governor of Morelos, Dr. Marco Antonio Ademe Catillo.

3. (SBU) Although the general theme stated by conference
organizers was transparency in government, the sessions
tended to address the issues of confidence in public
institutions, citizen participation, and proactive
initiatives to strengthen the police and justice sectors.
Several sessions addressed police and justice reform as
necessary elements in providing the catalyst for
institutional transformation. Also widely discussed was a
robust control de confienza (vetting and background checks)
program to establish trust in the public work force. Civil
society groups stressed the importance of widened
participation of civil society in broadening Mexico's
security network. All participants were in agreement that
these issues were instrumental in transforming Mexico's
security apparatus from shallow organizations to trusted
public institutions. Although this conference did not
produce any major new initiatives, it is worth noting it
brought together several elements of public and civil
society, and that the discussions produced agreement on the
way ahead.

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 /
PASCUAL

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