Tergiversa el NYT en editorial: Presidencia

La Presidencia de la República respondió dos días después al New York Times que en los últimos tres años el Gobierno federal ha fomentado una mayor rendición de cuentas, luego de que el diario estadounidense publicara el lunes pasado una crítica contra las acciones de rendición de cuentas en la administración pública en el país.

“La editorial no refleja las acciones concretas que el gobierno mexicano ha tomado en los últimos tres años con respecto a estos asuntos. Con el fin de fomentar una mayor rendición de cuentas, hemos ratificado la Ley Nacional de Transparencia, el fortalecimiento de la Oficina del Auditor Superior Federal -a agencia- legislativa, el presidente Peña Nieto amplió las competencias del Tribunal de Justicia Administrativa Federal y estableció comités anticorrupción locales”, escribió Paulo Carreño, Coordinador de Marca País y Medios Internacionales de la Presidencia de la República, en una misiva dirigida al editor del diario y al Consejo Editorial.

En la misiva el Gobierno federal recuerda que Peña Nieto realizó órdenes ejecutivas contra la corrupción como la obligatoriedad para los funcionarios públicos de declarar los posibles conflictos de interés, así como la puesta en marcha de una Unidad Especializada en Ética y Prevención de Conflictos de Intereses. Además, de ordenar una investigación sobre la llamada Casa Blanca, cuyos resultados deslindaron al Ejecutivo.

LEER MÁS | NYT cuestiona Gobierno de EPN

“En cuanto a la lucha contra el crimen organizado, el 96 de los 122 fugitivos más buscados ya no son una amenaza para la sociedad mexicana. Las autoridades mexicanas continúan investigando la participación de funcionarios mexicanos en la fuga de Joaquín Guzmán, según lo ordenado por el presidente Peña Nieto desde el primer minuto se le informó. El 12 de julio, el Presidente exigió públicamente Oficina General de la Fiscalía para investigar a fondo y determinar la participación de funcionarios del gobierno”, se lee en la misiva.

Sobre el caso de la desaparición de los 43 normalistas de Ayotzinapa, la Presidencia de la República señala la asistencia técnica en la investigación del Grupo Interdisciplinario de Expertos Independientes de la CIDH fue la iniciativa del presidente Peña.

“Esta acción sin precedentes refleja la apertura del gobierno mexicano y su compromiso con la resolución del caso. Esta Administración no sólo ha otorgado todo su apoyo a los expertos -que internacionales ha sido reconocida por ellos, pero se ha aceptado plenamente sus recomendaciones, pidió una prórroga de seis meses de su mandato y creó una Comisión Mixta para profundizar la investigación”, escribe Paulo Carreño, a nombre de la Presidencia.

El funcionario asegura que existe una “profunda preocupación por las tergiversaciones en la editorial, estamos de acuerdo que México aún enfrenta desafíos. Este gobierno está trabajando sin descanso para superarlos”.

CARTA COMPLETA

Dear Mr. Rosenthal and esteemed members of the Editorial Board of the NYT: Regarding your editorial published in today’s edition under the title “Mexico Stubbornly Resists Accountability” (January 4th, 2016), we believe it is important for your readers to have first-hand and complete factual information.

Accountability, in fact, has been one of the top priorities of President Enrique Peña Nieto’s Administration, which has continuously endorsed the demands and proposals of the Mexican people in order to find areas that need to improve and where we need to focus greater efforts.

The editorial fails to reflect the concrete actions that the Mexican government has taken in the last three years regarding these matters. In order to foster greater accountability, we have ratified the National Transparency Law, strengthened the Federal Superior Auditor’s Office –a legislative agency–, extended the powers of the Federal Administrative Justice Court and established local anticorruption committees. President Peña Nieto is also working with Congress to enact the secondary laws that will constitute the legal framework for the National Anticorruption System, which represents a paradigm shift in our legal system.

Meanwhile, the President issued Executive Orders against corruption. For example, now it is mandatory for public officials to declare possible conflicts of interest, and a Specialized Unit in Ethic and Prevention of Conflict of Interest has been created. Additionally, the President ordered an investigation into a possible conflict of interest derived from the purchase of a house by the spouse of the President, which results are public in this link:https://www.gob.mx/sfp/prensa/resultados-sobre-la-investigacion-del-posible-conflicto-de-interes.

Regarding the fight against organized crime, 96 of the 122 most wanted fugitives are no longer a threat to the Mexican society. The Mexican authorities continue to investigate the participation of Mexican officials in the escape of Joaquín Guzmán, as ordered by President Peña Nieto since the first minute he was informed. On July 12^th, the President publically demanded the Attorney’s General Office to thoroughly probe and determine the involvement of any government official. The next day, the Secretary of Interior, Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong, recognized that there was a possibility that prison officials were accomplices to the escape and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bring them to justice. He also announced the resignation of the head of the Federal Prison Administration System and the Director of the Federal Prison from which Guzmán escaped. The Mexican Justice System has issued 23 detention orders against officials who were presumably involved and has arrested 13of them. Likewise, the Federal Government has also taken measures to update and improve procedures in Mexico’s jail system.

Regarding the terrible events that took place in the state of Guerrero, in September 2014, the technical assistance in the investigation of the IACHR’s Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts was President Peña’s initiative. This unprecedented action reflects the Mexican government’s openness and its commitment with solving the case. This Administration has not only granted full support to the international experts—which has been acknowledged by them—but it has fully accepted their recommendations, asked for a six-month extension of their mandate and created a Joint Commission to deepen the investigation.

Furthermore, almost 50 members of the 27 Battalion of the Military Forces have testified before the Public Prosecutor, showing the Administration’s commitment based on the suggestions made by the experts group, always in full observance of the Mexican laws. Besides all this, the Attorney General’s Office has made public the preliminary inquiry of the case to guarantee public information access, transparency and accountability. So far, 111 people have been arrested for their participation in this crime. Nonetheless, the investigations related to this case will remain open until all those responsible face a court of Law.

With the implementation of the Human Rights National Program, the Mexican government seeks to monitor and implement recommendations made by international organisms. Of the 178 petitions that the government has received from the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts, 141 have been solved and 37 are currently being addressed. Likewise, the Mexican government has fostered the implementation of various actions designed to improve security and the Rule of Law, such as the “General Law to Prevent, Investigate and Punish Torture” Bill, as well as the “General Law to Prevent and Punish Crimes concerning Disappearances” Bill.

Mr. Peña Nieto has continuously expressed his firm commitment to accelerate the implementation of these policies.

Despite our grave concern over the misrepresentations in the editorial, we do agree that Mexico still faces challenges. This government is working relentlessly to overcome them.

I remain, of course, more than willing as always to provide broader information to your Editorial Board and journalists for this purpose.

Kind Regards,

Paulo Carreño Foreign Press and Country Brand Coordinator Presidency of Mexico