Mexico Anti-Drug Aid Delayed Due To Human Rights Criticism

WASHINGTON — Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., blocked the release of a favorable State Department report on Mexico's human rights record, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Leahy's action delays the release of $100 million in U.S. aid meant to help Mexico combat drug traffickers. The Merida Initiative, a $1.4 billion, three-year package, requires Congress to withhold some of the funding unless the State Department reports that Mexico is not violating human rights while prosecuting the drug war, the Post reported.

"Those requirements have not been met, so it is premature to send the report to Congress," Leahy said in a statement released to the newspaper. "We had good faith discussions with Mexican and U.S. officials in reaching these requirements in the law, and I hope we can continue in that spirit."

The Post reported that the State Department had intended to send its report praising Mexico's progress on human rights to Congress this week. But aides to Leahy, chairman of the Senate Appropriations foreign operations subcommittee, cited reports of torture and forced disappearances in rejecting the report.

President Barack Obama is traveling to Guadalajara, Mexico, this weekend for a summit with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Comments

[Mexitli]

"I sure don't want my neigbors to hate me."

We don't hat you. How can we? We don't even know you exist.

"Mexico is in a bad situation.­"

23 black men a day are violently killed in your country.

CNN, Soledad Obrien, Black in America II

[blaharumph]

frankly, obama visting mexico frightens me. the cartel crime there is crazy right now. mayors and federal agents being kdnppd and kllled. it's not safe there

[LovingHope]

Mexico is in a bad situation. My heart goes out to them. I'm afraid that a lot of poor people will die. "The War on Drug." It is so wrong on so many levels. I hope Obama fixes relations with Mexico. I sure don't want my neigbors to hate me.