Background on Key Figures and Relevance
Alberto Guerrero, a security consultant and specialist, and Jorelvy Calixto from Global Thought have raised concerns about the recently announced Plan Michoacán. The plan aims to address security issues in Michoacán, a state in western Mexico that has been plagued by organized crime and violence for years.
Guerrero, with extensive experience in security matters, and Calixto, a consultant specializing in social programs, are both respected voices in Mexico’s ongoing struggle against crime and corruption. Their criticisms highlight the need for a comprehensive, well-planned strategy to tackle the complex challenges facing Michoacán.
Criticisms of the Plan
Lack of Focus on Financial Dismantlement
Guerrero argues that the plan focuses too heavily on military deployment rather than targeting the financial structures that enable criminal organizations. He emphasizes the importance of addressing money laundering operations, extortion networks, and front companies to achieve lasting results.
- Criticism: The plan does not prioritize intellectual and financial intelligence, which are crucial for dismantling criminal organizations.
- Guerrero’s Proposal: Implement specialized units for intellectual and financial intelligence, working in coordination with anti-corruption prosecutors, tax authorities, and the Financial Intelligence Unit to identify illicit financial flows and assets.
Reactive Approach with Risk of Repeating Past Mistakes
Both experts argue that the plan is a reactive measure without proper security diagnostics, which could lead to repeating past failures. They stress the importance of understanding delinquency patterns in various regions before deploying military forces.
- Criticism: The plan lacks a precise diagnosis of delinquency in regional capitals and other areas where authorities have not even dared to enter.
- Experts’ Recommendation: Conduct thorough security diagnostics before deploying military forces to ensure a more effective and targeted approach.
Limited Impact of Social Programs
Guerrero points out that social programs included in the plan cannot have a real impact without ensuring territory security first.
Military Presence and Human Rights Concerns
Calixto warns that increasing military presence does not guarantee a reduction in violence and could lead to human rights violations. She argues that organized crime is a public security issue, not a matter of national security, and that the military should not be the primary responsibility for addressing it.
- Criticism: Military deployment has historically failed to reduce violence and may even exacerbate it.
- Calixto’s Recommendation: Focus on social justice and police intelligence to create a more comprehensive strategy for addressing crime in Michoacán.
Michoacán’s History as a “Criminal Laboratory”
Calixto describes Michoacán as a “criminal laboratory” where failed security strategies have been tested and, in some cases, replicated across other states. She emphasizes the need for a deeper, more integrated strategy that combines social justice with police intelligence.
Sealing Michoacán: Impracticability and Constitutional Concerns
Guerrero criticizes the idea of “sealing” Michoacán to prevent criminal groups’ movement, arguing that it is both impractical and a violation of constitutional rights.
- Criticism: Sealing a state would infringe on the constitutional right to free movement.
- Guerrero’s Assessment: The military lacks the precise knowledge of Michoacán’s border regions with neighboring states, making the proposal more rhetorical than operational.
Calixto agrees, calling the measure “discursive and impracticable.”
