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Dubbed “Plan México” by IRTF, the initiative pledges $550
million to combat drug trafficking, weapon sales, and gang
activity in Central America by providing surveillance equipment
and training regional law enforcement. The budget allots $500
million to México, granting $206 million for military aircrafts,
$133 million to enhance military, and police forces, and $15
million for drug demand reduction.
IRTF says the initiative does little to combat the root causes
of drug trafficking; poverty, lack of available jobs and
healthcare—instead is bolstering México’s military arsenal. “The
‘war on drugs’ is being used as a guise to beef up the Mexican
military to fight against social movements that are resisting
first world amenities,” said IRTF Program Director, Brian
Stefan. He explained these social movements are steered by
community leaders concerned about the loss of jobs, decrease in
quality of life and oppression of indigenous groups because of
treaties like the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA).
“The economic disparities between the rich and poor have
increased tremendously since NAFTA was enacted in January of
1994,” Stefan said. Globalization and development initiatives
build highways, roads, hydroelectric dams and ports, while
depriving the people of their livelihoods. “For these people
living off the land is more important; they can’t afford these
amenities, like electricity, without paying jobs,” Stefan said.
IRTF is a Cleveland based nonprofit organization that advocates
for human rights, economic justice, changes in U.S. foreign
policies and peace in Central America. The organization was
formed in 1981 after the murder of two Cleveland church women in
El Salvador by U.S. trained soldiers.
Stefan said the organization joins efforts with activists in
Central America who are risking their lives to improve the
quality of life of the underprivileged. “It means a lot to
people struggling there to know they are not alone, that people
here support the work they do,” Stefan said. He hopes Cleveland
activists educate themselves about México’s culture and will be
inspired enough to help preserve it.
When needed, IRTF mobilizes more than 600 Northeast Ohioans into
action by calling, sending emails, and faxes to Congressional
representatives.
The ‘Plan México’ legislation action sheet suggests six talking
points that ask for the de-militarization of the Merida
Initiative, strengthening of judicial and law enforcement
institutions, funding of rural development programs that provide
well-paying jobs, and reduction of U.S. drug consumption that
finance drug cartels.
For Mexican photographer Alex Rivera the heart of the
issues comes down to diminishing natural resources in an
increasingly consumer driven world. “The U.S. government wants
to convert México into Columbia,” Rivera said—to him that means
a U.S. monopoly on Mexican resources without the burden of
supporting its population.
Merida
Initiative
Rivera said the Merida Initiative is an indirect campaign to
have the Mexican military curb the influx of undocumented
immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexican border. “Social movements
in Latin America are organizing to really put Democracy to work
for the people,” he said. One of those movements is the
Zapatismo of Chiapas, México, an indigenous revolutionary
group that advocates against globalization, neoliberalism,
and NAFTA.
Hiram College
student Elisa Bredendiek spent the last four months in
México, studying social analysis, immigration, U.S.
intervention, and indigenous social movements. She lived with
the Zapatistas and said they have united all struggles of
oppression, discrimination, equal rights for women, bisexuals,
and immigrants against capitalism.
“The U.S. should stop treating México like a little brother
who’s to be exploited,” said Bredendiek. She shared a slideshow
of images from the trip and discussed the injustices the people
of Chiapas face daily.
The region is antonymous, with a functional economy, justice
system, and education whose degrees are not recognized anywhere
else in México. They don’t receive public funds and their
amenities, like running water and electricity, are often cut off
by the Mexican government which considers them to be radical
factions. “Which is sort of romantic but also very annoying,”
Bredendiek said.
She was disappointed that the Cleveland Mexican community did
not attend the solidarity event. “I learned from the Zapatistas
that in order to make a difference you have to organize your own
community and any movement to prevent exploitation of others has
to be organic,” Bredendiek said. She has little faith in large
corporations and said measurable change is made possible by
average people who care. Bredendiek said U.S.-Americans should
be concerned about the exploitation of people in México
especially when U.S.-American tax money is indirectly funding
campaigns against them.
Her study abroad trip was sponsored by the México Solidarity
Network which provides college credit, to promote dialogue
and build alliances between the U.S. and México.
Guests at the event could buy Mexican bead jewelry at fair trade
prices to support indigenous artisans, and $1 raffle tickets to
win handmade purses, boxes of chocolate or gift certificates to
a local restaurant. Portion of the proceeds were donated to
Dignidad y Justicia (Dignity & Justice), a worker-owned
ethical clothing company run by women who organize other women
working in sweatshops throughout La Frontera—the northern
México border. “They set their own working hours, conditions and
wages,” said Stefan.
Another component of IRTF is the Rapid Response Network. “We
respond to urgent human right abuses—like death threats,
kidnappings, and torture,” Stefan said. The organization sends
emails, faxes and calls leaders and law enforcers in Central
America and the U.S., urging protection and justice for the
victims.
IRTF regularly hosts educational events, provides speakers to
local high schools like Lincoln West, and recruits volunteers
and interns. For more information on IRTF visit their web site:
www.irtfcleveland.org
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