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Mexico looks abroad for examples of peace processes to end drug violence

In attempts to curb drug violence and rampant murder rates, Mexican politicians are seeking new paths to peace. Countries with violent histories, such as Colombia and South Africa, are being viewed as models to learn from.

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Yahir Ceballos/Reuters
Presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador shakes hands with supporters during his arrival to a rally in Mexico. Mr. Obrador is looking toward Colombia's peace process in efforts to address Mexico's criminal history.
  • By Diego Oré Reuters

| Mexico City

The Colombian peace process is a "good reference" for Mexico to follow to try and end years of drug violence, the security adviser of leftist presidential frontrunner Andrés Manuel López Obrador said on Thursday.

Mr. Obrador has chosen Alfonso Durazo, a veteran political operative who critics say has little law enforcement experience, as his pick to reactivate the public security ministry if he wins July's presidential election, tasking Mr. Durazo with the tough job of lowering a record murder tally.

In an interview with Reuters in Mexico City, Durazo said he and his team would study successful efforts to end long-running conflicts from around the world, but adapt those solutions to meet Mexico's needs.

"The Colombian peace process is a good reference, but we need to design our own terms," said Durazo, who used to work with the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and has worked with Obrador since 2006.

Durazo also cited the end of apartheid in South Africa, Spanish efforts to end the ETA conflict, and Argentina's so-called Full Stop Law that helped reconcile a society riven by years of political repression, as models to learn from.

Obrador has said Durazo would take a central role in restoring order after years of violence claiming tens of thousands of lives, while also making the contentious suggestion of exploring an amnesty for criminal gangs.

"Will we explore the possibility of an amnesty? Yes. We won't discard any idea that's on the table without evaluating it first," Durazo said. "Will we sit down with the big cartel kingpins? I can't tell you right now."

Nonetheless, he stressed that the focus was not on letting criminals off the hook, but rather seeking new ways to end the violence.

Durazo began his career as the private secretary of PRI presidential candidate Luis Colosio, working with him until he was assassinated in the 1994 presidential campaign.

He then left the PRI before becoming the spokesman of former President Vicente Fox, of the National Action Party, who led the country from 2000-2006.

In 2006, Durazo joined forces with Obrador, a former Mexico City mayor and two-time presidential runner-up.

This story was reported by Reuters.

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