Former Mexican President Calderon Defends Juarez Policy in Harvard Commentary Fox News Latino
go to original February 21, 2013

Director of Human Rights Watch's Americas division Jose Miguel Vivanco speaks to the media in Mexico City February 20, 2013. Human Rights Watch on Wednesday released a report alleging the involvement of Mexican security forces in the disappearances of 149 people during the administration of former president Felipe Calderon between 2006 and 2012. Vivanco called Calderon's administration "disastrous" with regards to human rights. (Reuters/Henry Romero)

Former Mexican President Felipe Calderón’s first month at Harvard was marked by strong opposition, both home and abroad, to his strategy in combating his country’s drug cartels while in office.

The former Mexican leader has remained relatively quiet as he begins his one-year teaching appointment at the Kennedy School of Government, but he recently defended himself in a commentary published in the Kennedy School’s Latin American Policy Journal.

Calling the border city of Ciudad Juárez a “place of progress,” Calderón said that his government’s tactics helped reduce the bloodshed in a town once dubbed the world’s most violent.

“We have achieved positive results, because we not only listened to the people of Juárez, but also got them on board to solve this problem with us,” Calderón wrote in his commentary. “There is still a lot to do, but we can now say with confidence that Juárez is slowly getting back on track.”

Calderón said that his three-part plan – sending in the military to restore order, working with local law enforcement, and the community rebuilding program “Todos Somos Juárez” – led to a reduction in violent crime in Ciudad Juárez.

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