Senate Authorizes Military Searches of Private Homes and Intercepting Communications Jenaro Villamil - Proceso
go to original May 1, 2016

Mexican police and military forces practice torture all too often, according to international human rights activists and experts. (AFP)

In the early hours of Friday morning, the Senate approved reforms to the Code of Military Justice which empowers military judges of control [who oversee cases being processed] to be able to order military searches of private homes, authorizes the interception of private oral, written, electronic and digital communications, and restricts journalists access to oral military trials. Legislators passed the bill without question by 78 votes in favor from the PRI [Party of the Institutional Revolution], PAN [National Action Party] and Green Ecology Party [PVEM], with 27 votes against from the PRD [Party of the Democratic Revolution] and PT [Labor Party].

The Chamber of Deputies has already passed the legislation and the Senate made no changes, even though the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that its contains several powers that are violations of individual rights.

Senators Alejandro Encinas [PRD] and Manuel Bartlett [PT] argued that the new law "facilitates the state of exception" and moved to suspend debate of the bill. Senator Bartlett argued against the initiative, saying,

"Thus military dictatorships begin and end: you don't play with guns." He said the law gives "excessive powers" to the armed forces, "creates a dictatorial system, goes beyond discipline of the military, violates the Constitution, exalts the military and violates popular sovereignty."

Bartlett also questioned the senators who supported this bill:

"What do searches of private homes have to do the with disciplining the military? Do you realize what you are doing? You are authorizing that the military can search the Senate, itself."

Senator Alejandro Encinas emphasized the danger of giving military prosecutors the power to engage in intelligence work, intercept telephone communications and order civilians to appear before military courts.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Related: Mexico Justice System: Giving Powers to Military to Search Private Citizens Unconstitutional (Mexico Voices)

Related: New Military Powers Could Create 'Totalitarian State' in Mexico (teleSUR)

Related: Law Allowing Military Searches of Civilian Homes Will Result in Major Human Rights Violations (La Jornada)

Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!