No Threats in Cienfuegos Case / Mexico’s Dignity is Secure

No threats in Cienfuegos case. President López Obrador said the federal government would not threaten to expel Drug Enforcement (DEA) agents during the investigation and arrest of former Minister of National Defense (SEDENA) Salvador Cienfuegos. “They say that we threatened to expel agents of foreign entities. No one was threatened, the only thing we did was to express our disagreement through diplomatic channels. They understood us very well and it was resolved,” he said. Yesterday, the Washington Post reported that the surprising decision to clear Cienfuegos of all drug trafficking and money laundering accusations was agreed by the US after Mexico threatened to expel DEA officials. Following his one-month arrest, Gen. Cienfuegos arrived yesterday night in Mexico as a free man and now will face an investigation based on the evidence collected by US authorities, including several telephone conversations. President López Obrador asked the people to trust the coming investigation by Mexican authorities.

Mexico’s dignity is secure. Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard said the Attorney General’s Office (FGR) will carry out an investigation into in the Salvador Cienfuegos affair that reflects the height of Mexico’s prestige, ensuring the country’s dignity will not be sacrificed. “There is confidence in both the United States and Mexico that the investigation will be carried out with the highest standards of effectiveness and honesty. There is trust and support for the FGR and Mexico’s judiciary, which is very significant to us coming from the United States judiciary,” he noted regarding the arrest and later liberation of the former Minister of National Defense (SEDENA) by US authorities. Ebrard said that it would be “a suicide” not to investigate Cienfuegos, after having reached a historic agreement with the US to bring him back to Mexico.

Report on homicides. Homicides are still in the “contention zone,” while femicides saw a slight decrease in October, Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) acting head Ricardo Mejía said. So far, from January to October there has been 29,182 homicides nationwide with Guanajuato, Baja California, State of Mexico, Chihuahua, Jalisco and Michoacan, in that order, concentrating 52 percent of the victims and 15 municipalities reporting 28.7 percent of all cases.  Minister of National Defense (SEDENA) Luis Cresencio Sandoval reported also reported 428 clandestine intakes of fuel and over a million liters seized from cartels specialized in fuel theft.

Acknowledges condolence messages. President López Obrador thanked those who sent messages of support after the death of his sister Candelaria Beatriz. “I thank everyone who expressed their condolences for my sister. You already know how these things are: we are hurt by family members and friends who leave us. She was my only sister,” he said. A 56-year-old teacher living in Chiapas, Candelaria Beatriz´s health had become complicated recently from diabetes. The president noted that she was a very religious person. “She left us in peace.”

Suggests breweries relocate. Breweries should be installed in areas near the Grijalva and Usumacinta rivers and not in the north of the country where water is scarce, President López Obrador said. “There (in the north of the country), permits are given but in the center and north of the country, there is no water and what must be guaranteed is that there is no shortage of water for human use and for agriculture,” he said. The president was referring to heavy rains that are flooding Tabasco and the cancellation of the Constellation Brands plant in Mexicali early in March, a project worth US$1.4 billion that was 70 percent complete. It was canceled after 27,973 people voted for its termination in a public referendum. López Obrador noted that the reform to the Water Law will prevent any privatization.

Will participate in G20 videoconferences. President López Obrador announced that over the weekend he will participate in G20 videoconferences to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic crisis. “On Saturday and Sunday, I will participate in conference calls at a meeting of the G20, of heads of state of the Top 20 nations and I am going to make two presentations,” he noted.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish