Fundar: Centro de Análisis e Investigación

Fundar:: Centro de Análisis e Investigación

CITIZENS MONITOR THE POLICE IN THE MOUNTAIN OF GUERRERO

In Guerrero's Mountain region, close to Tlapa de Comonfort, an office was opened for the monitoring and supervision of the police by civil society. The Civil Monitor of the Police and the Security Bodies has successfully carried out cases of negotiation between authorities and citizens and has documented and intervened in cases of police extortion, reaching acceptable solutions for both parties. Among the situations to which it has responded are cases of accompanying the family of a policeman who died on duty during the processes for receiving the pension. The latter aside from police extortion cases in which an intervention has been achieved in order for the affected people and the policemen to listen to each other and give back the sums obtained under pressure.

Este proyecto ciudadano surge en 2006 cuando tres organizaciones mexicanas (Tlachinollan, Insyde y Fundar) se dieron a la tarea de planear y poner en operación el primer monitor civil de policía en México. El Monitor busca generar información para valorar el desempeño de los cuerpos policíacos y de seguridad en la Montaña, con el objetivo de mejorar sus prácticas y hacer respetar sus derechos humanos y de los habitantes del estado.

A través de la documentación de casos y la revisión de información el Monitor Civil identificará patrones buscando reconocer las buenas y malas prácticas en la actuación policial. Esto, con el objetivo de impulsar las dinámicas que han sido benéficas para la comunidad.

Mario Patrón [Tlachinollan], Rommel Chacan [Monitor], Jorge Romero [Fundar].

With the support of the MacArthur Foundation, the Open Society Institute and the Tinker Foundation, the Civil Monitor of the Police and Security Bodies in the Mountain of the State of Guerrero opened its doors starting November 26th, 2007, and with considerable strength thanks to the results of the discussion between national and international experts taken place within the Seminar held in Chilpancingo last Fall.

The Monitor is coordinated by Abel Barrera, director of Tlachinollan, and is operated by Fidela Vargas and Rommel Chacan, attorneys with wide experience in human rights. Furthermore, the Monitor has the constant and close support of Fundar and Insyde in order to draw the political, technical and operational issues that emerge in the installment of an institution of such nature.

Fidela Hernández y Rommel Chacan, Operadores del Monitor, en la oficina del Monitor.

Seminar “Civil Monitor of the Police in the Mountain of Guerrero: dialogue with national and international experience”

The idea of the Civil Monitor emerges from the practice of comparing successful experiences of civil supervision of the police in other countries. To concrete the latter knowledge during the planning stage of the office, it was crucial to hold the Seminar which took place from August 30 th to September 1st, 2007.

The Seminar managed to summon representatives of the three powers of the state of Guerrero: the Secretariat of Public Security, represented by its leader, General Heriberto Salinas Altes; as for the General Attorney's Office, Eduardo Murueta; the representation of the Judicial Power laid on the President of the Superior Court of Justice of the State of Guerrero, Edmundo Roman Pinzon; and from the local Legislative Power, Ramiro Solorio Almazan. The event was also attended by the representative of the Office of the High Commissioner of the United Nations for Human Rights (OHCUNHR) Amerigo Incalcaterra.

Experts in the field also attended the seminar, and shared their experience in leading organisms of police supervision launched in other countries such as Brazil, the United States, Canada and South Africa. The experts gave their recommendations, congratulations and good omens on this necessary and innovative initiative in our country.