Armed Forces
Reuters Connect

Mexico to regain peace by returning armed forces on the streets on the next five years according to a recently published article.

The Surge of Violence in Mexico Has Reached a Record-High

Violence in Mexico continues to rise and an average of 95 murders were committed everyday in 2019, according to the official data. This is one of the biggest problems that President Obrador faced during his first year in office as President.

Early this year, a report was released by the Secretariat of Public Security showing the increase of violence in 2019. There were around 33,743 murder cases recorded in 2018 while 34,582 murders in 2019. This simply means that there was an increase of 2.5 percent.

Moreover, the number of violence in Mexico last year was not the highest since the country began tracking its murder cases since 1997. Mexico has reached a record-high of 2,585 cases of murder and homicides in March this year- the highest official record of violence.

However, it is not clear in the report as to how many of the cases were related to the crimes committed by the organized groups or Mexican cartels. The data did not also include those until now remained not reported and recorded.

The surge is very ironic because it happened when the country began to put all its resources to contain COVID-19. Instead of expecting that violence will reduce, it was not what was expected to happen. This scenario is putting into misery around 40 percent of Mexicans who are suffering due to economic constraints brought by the global health pandemic.

President. Obrador Signed a Decree of Returning on the Streets the Armed Forces

Due to the existing violence in the country amid COVID-19, Pres. Obrador decided to sign the decree last week that ordered the Armed Forces back on the streets to stabilize and implement peace and order.

Armed Forces will be on the street until March 27, 2024 until the National Guard that he created in 2018 when he took his office can improve their capabilities. Meanwhile, the Armed Forces are expected to help the country regain peace.

On the other hand, the National Guard was created to combat violence in Mexico and they are comprised of different units coming from the Armed Forces. Their main mandate is primarily to target the different notorious and dangerous Mexican cartels and organized groups.

However, thousands of National Guards are now assigned in the Northern and Southern borders after Pres. Obrador got pressured from Pres. Trump. Through this way, the National Guards can help its neighboring country to control the flow of legal migrants and apprehend those who illegally cross the borders.

One of the problems seen also why there is a surge of violence in the country it's because there are many police officials who are bribed by the organized groups. They are paid and in return, they will protect the illegal businesses of these groups like smuggling.

It is high time that the Mexican Armed Forces should show to its people that they can be trusted and that they can protect them from any uncertainties.

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