Outgoing Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) made even more wild claims as critics slammed his record on the War on Drugs, claiming that criminal groups in Mexico are "respectful" and that they also "respect the citizenry." Of course, these latest AMLO comments raised a few eyebrows.

Lopez Obrador, whose own administration officials were accused of influencing him in favor of the drug cartels without his knowledge, stated during his daily press briefings that the country's violent criminal gangs and drug cartels are essentially "respectful people" who "respect the citizenry" and mostly just kill each other.

However, the Associated Press pointed out that AMLO's words radically do not fit the reality that many Mexican citizens are facing right now, as these criminal groups have terrorized the citizenry, took over small towns and ruled with an iron fist, extorted local businesses, and killed anybody that they suspected of working for the government or rival gangs.

These comments came after a reporter asked AMLO if the drug cartels behaved well when he visited the township of Badiraguato, Sinaloa, which was where the infamous Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, the founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, came from.

"Always!" answered the president. He added. "Sometimes we come upon people who are strange, but respectful," and continued, "Fortunately, the attacks that happen in this country generally occur between (criminal) groups," before claiming that these drug cartels "respect the citizenry."

Human Rights groups have decried these comments, pointing out that thousands of Mexicans have been forced from their homes by cartel violence and extortion. There are also clandestine grave sites all over Mexico, and this is where these drug cartels throw the bodies of their victims, be they police, military, rival gang members, or just ordinary citizens.

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Mexico Has Not Protected Journalists Well Under Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

These criminal groups have also been known to go after journalists, and press freedom advocates have repeatedly slammed the Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador administration as Mexico has become the worst country for journalists outside of a warzone under his administration.

According to Reporters Without Borders, at least 37 journalists were killed and five disappeared during the six years that AMLO has been in office, and his administration has "clearly failed to resolve this tragedy and to combat impunity for crimes of violence against journalists."

The group also pointed out that during his inauguration, AMLO promised that "There will be no more journalists murdered." The advocacy group noted, "His failure is beyond dispute. Aside from the appalling number of reporters who have lost their lives, no reform of the system for protecting journalists has been implemented despite the recommendations in this area from organizations such as RSF."

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Downplays Mexican Peso Slump

Meanwhile, AMLO has also addressed the slumping Mexican Peso, admitting that while it has "lost value in recent days, not much, it's a move with benefits because it was already too strong, very strong."

The Mexican peso weakened by 0.2% on the day after falling nearly 7% earlier. It has posted a 2.8% weekly loss, the worst since September, according to Yahoo! Finance.

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This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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