TOLUCA, State of Mexico — President Enrique Peña Nieto made it clear that state governments have the responsibility to provide adequate security in an efficient and timely manner to its population.
“This is a task that not only concerns the federal government, but occupies the efforts that state governments should do,” he said during the inauguration of State of Mexico Control, Command, Communication, Computer and Quality Center (C5).
“Let me say that clear; if it expects the federal government to act or go to replace capabilities of states, (these states) will really be falling behind in their ability to act,” he said.
Accompanied by the head of federal Attorney General Arely Gómez González, the president stressed that “The Mexican government is not able to supply by itself only what is the responsibility of state governments.”
What does exist, he said, is a close coordination, a total capacity, to act jointly, “while acknowledging that each level or order of government is needed and has a duty to make their own efforts.”
The goal is to “enhance response capabilities and have state governments provide adequate, timely and efficient security to the population — Mexican families,” Peña Nieto said.
He said the center that opened Friday is part of the policy of close coordination between the governments of the Republic and state, to expand and strengthen its capabilities in public security as well as to be better prepared to combat organized crime.
While noting that criminal groups have increased their capabilities, funding and how to act, he stressed that “governments at all their levels can also expand capabilities.”
After unveiling the inaugural plaque for the center, in which 402 million pesos ($21.6 million) was invested and consists of a data transport network to communicate to the entire state, Peña Nieto called on states to take a common front on tasks to combat organized crime and violence prevention.
After the opening ceremony, the president toured the center, part of a network of similar facilities in the state, the result of an investment of 6.9 billion pesos, with 10,000 surveillance cameras in 44 municipalities, for communication with 3,000 patrols by GPS technology.
