AMLO calls Gangs, Cartels ‘Respectful People and the Citizenry’

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s recent statements regarding Mexico’s violent criminal gangs and drug cartels being “respectful people” who “respect the citizenry” are in stark contrast to the harsh reality faced by millions of Mexicans living in cartel-dominated areas.

These criminal organizations routinely extort protection payments from local residents and resort to violence, including killings and kidnappings, when their demands are not met.

During a visit to the township of Badiraguato, Sinaloa, a reporter questioned López Obrador about the behavior of drug cartels. It is worth noting that this township is the hometown of the notorious drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and the president’s controversial visits to this area have raised eyebrows on multiple occasions.

López Obrador expressed his displeasure with the preferred candidate’s debate performance, stating that he found it offensive. He also mentioned that although he encounters individuals with peculiar behavior, he believes in treating them with respect. The president AMLO calls gangs respectful people.

During his morning news briefing, López Obrador continued discussing the issue of drug cartels. He emphasized that there is important information that the public should be aware of.

The president acknowledged that, fortunately, most of the attacks in the country are carried out by criminal groups against each other. He emphasized that these groups still show some level of respect towards the general population.

López Obrador has consistently avoided direct confrontation with the cartels, arguing that they turned to criminal activities due to limited opportunities. His approach, known as “Hugs, not bullets,” focuses on providing job training programs to young people to prevent them from joining the ranks of cartel gunmen.

In the past, he has also appeared to normalize the gangs’ presence, encouraging Mexicans to negotiate peace pacts among the cartels.

But saying the cartels don’t attack common citizens takes the issue to a new level. Experts and rights activists say thousands of Mexicans have been forced from their homes by cartel violence and extortion, and thousands of business owners, taxi and bus drivers have been killed for refusing extortion demands.

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Clandestine grave sites throughout Mexico are filled with the bodies of drug cartel victims.

Thursday’s statements by López Obrador come one week after he said he won’t fight Mexican drug cartels on U.S. orders. In what the president called a “Mexico First” policy, he said “We are not going to act as policemen for any foreign government. Mexico First. Our home comes first.”

Over the years, López Obrador has laid out various justifications for his policy of avoiding clashes with the cartels. In the past he has said “you cannot fight violence with violence,” and on other occasions he has argued the government has to address “the causes” of drug cartel violence, ascribing them to poverty or a lack of opportunities.

López Obrador has also encouraged leaders of the Catholic church to try to negotiate peace pacts between warring gangs.

Explaining why he has ordered the army not to attack cartel gunmen, he said in 2022 that “we also take care of the lives of the gang members, they are human beings.” AMLO calls Gangs respectful people who respect citizenry.

He has also sometimes appeared not to take the violence issue seriously. In June 2023, he said of one drug gang that had abducted 14 police officers: “I’m going to tell on you to your fathers and grandfathers,” suggesting they should get a good spanking.

Asked about those comments at the time, residents of one town in the western Mexico state of Michoacán who have lived under drug cartel control for years reacted with disgust and disbelief.

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“He is making fun of us,” said one restaurant owner, who asked to remain anonymous because he — like almost everyone else in town — has long been forced to pay protection money to the local cartel.

López Obrador has also made a point of visiting the township of Badiraguato in Sinaloa state at least a half dozen times, and pledging to do so again before he leaves office in September.

It’s also a stance related to prickly nationalism and independence. Asked in November why he has visited the sparsely populated rural township so many times, López Obrador quoted a line from a defiant old drinking song, “because I want to.”

The president AMLO calls Gangs, has also imposed strict limits on U.S. agents operating in Mexico, and limited how much contact Mexican law enforcement can have with them.