VZCZCXRO7610
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #2342/01 2191702
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071702Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7779
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
RHMFIUU/HQ USNORTHCOM
RUEAHLA/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 002342 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MX
SUBJECT: MEXICAN GOVERNMENT REACHES OUT TO CIVIL SOCIETY ON 
MERIDA INITIATIVES 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  Continuing to improve its dialogue with 
Mexican civil society on security issues and the Merida 
Initiative, the GOM convened on August 6 a second open 
attendance meeting with NGOs and civil society.  The 
Secretariat of Government (SEGOB) and the Secretariat of 
Foreign Relations (SRE) jointly hosted the forum, with the 
Technical Secretary of the National Council Against 
Addictions (CONADIC).  Embassy section heads and officers 
from NAS, USAID, POL, DAO and ODC all participated in 
discussing aspects of Merida programming and implementation. 
The GOM opened the event to representatives of civil society 
and academic institutions who deal with topics related to the 
Merida Initiative (MI), such as drug addiction, security, 
human rights, justice system reform, and organized crime. 
The stated goal of the meeting was to facilitate GOM dialogue 
with civil society and better understand civil society 
perspectives.  This session was the third formal meeting 
sponsored by the GOM, with SRE and SEGOB hosting an inaugural 
March 2 open meeting and a private gathering on July 7.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SRE's Merida coordinator Ambassador Benito Andion 
stated the GOM seeks to improve dialogue and transparency 
between civil society and the U.S. and Mexican governments. 
SEGOB and SRE representatives at the event called for true 
"back and forth" communication.  They emphasized the recently 
redesigned MI website hosted by SRE, and pledged to post more 
detailed information to it, particularly relating to MI 
budget and expenditures.  Additionally, GOM representatives 
discussed in depth the administration's demand reduction 
efforts under Merida, including electronically linking 
treatment centers through secure telecommunications systems 
and training and certifying private rehabilitation 
facilities.  CONADIC also noted that the Secretariat of 
Health currently sponsors 302 "New Life" drug rehabilitation 
centers nationwide and will soon have 329.  Following the 
GOM's presentations, the Embassy's USAID Director and his 
staff provided an overview of the agency's programs in 
Mexico, both independent of and related to the MI.  NAS 
Director provided a comprehensive Merida overview and 
highlighted the improvements in GOM-USG cooperation. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The audience included over 60 investigative and 
research-based NGOs (such as FUNDAR), human rights groups 
(such as Fundacion Casa Alianza), federal government agencies 
(military and civilian), security advocacy groups (including 
Mexico Unido Contra la Delincuencia), and press.  The open 
question and answer session was a mix of procedural 
questions, which largely centered on Merida budget and 
resource distribution issues, calls for greater emphasis on 
demand reduction programs, and a few pointed criticisms 
ranging from perceived unwarranted slights to Mexico's human 
rights record to allegations that MI may be a pretext for 
U.S. meddling in the hemisphere.  A press attendee asked 
about the status of the 15 percent report and its impact on 
Merida funding.  Polcouns responded that the 15 percent 
report is considered a dialogue with the U.S. Congress rather 
than a certification mechanism, noting but noted that 
Congress ultimately has funding authority.  Many NGOs focused 
on the funding criteria and the allocation of Merida 
resources, with a view to understanding how they might 
participate and qualify for Merida funding for their work. 
USAID provided a summary of its budgeting process, and SEGOB 
suggested that this and similar information be posted to the 
SRE website for broader consumption. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The event provided an invaluable opportunity to hear 
from civil society organizations, particularly those which 
are less prominent on the national stage.  A representative 
from a woman's organization, the Red Nacional de Mujeres 
Vigilantes Social, gave a passionate defense of the Mexican 
military's work in combating organized crime and noted that 
her organization has participated with the military in 
patrols in Michoacan State.  Other NGO delegates highlighted 
the need to observe carefully justice reform efforts in 
Chihuahua State to determine what has been successful, 
enabling better planning for other states. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Comment: Coming shortly after the Washington Post's 
recent articles on criticism by national and international 
NGOs of the GOM's human rights performance in its fight 
 
MEXICO 00002342  002 OF 002 
 
 
against the narco-cartels, this third encounter was both 
timely and productive.  Senior-level Embassy participation 
enhanced both our exposure to and credibility with Mexico's 
civil society.  The session produced more more positive 
cross-talk than aggressive questioning, and evinced a 
manifest desire by all participants to continue the mutual 
engagement and education process.  As Merida moves forward, 
ramping up deliveries of hardware and training this fall, the 
Embassy plans to hold a series of small, sectoral 
conversations with focused subsets of SRE-SEGOB attendees. 
We must accept that Washington and international HR groups 
will support holding back 15 percent of Merida funding as a 
means to leverage improved GOM and SEDENA transparency. 
However, relatively few of the Mexican civil society groups 
are as strident in this message.  The majority simply seek 
more information about how to secure funding for their 
important work through inclusion in the Merida Initiative. 
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 / 
 
FEELEY