AMLO Criticizes ‘Chaining’/Reaction to Cruz

Juan Orlando’s arrest. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador criticized the “human rights violation” that occurred during the arrest of the former president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, accused by the United States of drug trafficking. Last Tuesday, Hernández was arrested at the request of the US. He is accused of three crimes related to drug trafficking. “It may be that what this man did is legally upheld, but why did they need to chain him? This is arrogance, a violation of human rights, that is unworthy,” said López Obrador. “Chain someone. Is it necessary? Can’t a person be detained, have him there with guards. Is it necessary to put a chain on him?”

Mexican journalists in Spain. Mexican journalists in Spain are asking for an international agreement that protects the rights of the press worldwide after several murders of journalists this year in Mexico. “There is no rest in Mexico. I have already lost count of the journalists who were murdered,” lamented Rosa Isela Pérez Torres, a Mexican journalist exiled in Spain. According to Pérez, much of the tragedy suffered by Mexican journalists is due to the fact that very powerful forces related to drug trafficking and organized crime govern Mexico. “Journalists are the only ones who confront and reflect on this problem, and this bothers very powerful groups, including international ones,” Pérez said.

Ted Cruz. After US Sen. Ted Cruz said that López Obrador administration’s so-called Fourth Transformation, or 4T, is a breach of the rule of law in Mexico, López Obrador responded that it made him “proud.” “If he says that we are wrong, the truth makes me proud.” López Obrador added that it seems natural to him that people like Cruz would be against his administration, which he said benefits the people of Mexico. “It is natural that this senator from Texas who disagrees with us expresses himself as he did. He is against the policy that we are carrying out in favor of the people of Mexico and in defense of Mexicans who work and live honestly in the US. It is to be expected.”

Avocado exports. López Obrador said he expects the dispute regarding security around avocado exports could be resolved with the US next week. The dispute arose last week after a Mexican allegedly threatened an inspector assigned to the US Department of Agriculture. The US health authority informed the National Service for Agrifood Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica) and the US subsequently imposed a ban on avocados coming from Michoacan. “It has been reviewed in recent days,” said Minister of the Interior Adán López. “There is a proposal so that the export of avocados can be regularized. We hope it will be positive and from next week it can be exported; it is basically to review the regulation. Those security mechanisms are going to be reinforced.”

Mexican Army. López Obrador assured that the Mexican Army is committed to contributing to the development of Mexico. “We have a loyal Army, especially to the institutions. It is different from other countries with all due respect. Our Army arises from a revolutionary movement. This is a revolutionary Army that emerged from the people. Its stains are not attributable to military commanders but to civil governments.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish