The governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro, and the secretary of the interior, Olga Sánchez Cordero, clashed in statements after the Segob condemned the alleged police abuse and death of Giovanni López.
The Segob noted that the health measures implemented by the government of Jalisco led to the police abuse and death of Giovanni López.
For its part, the Undersecretariat for Human Rights, led by Alejandro Encinas, requested information from the research folders “for the likely excessive use of public force”.
In response, the governor of Jalisco accused Sánchez Cordero and the head of the Undersecretariat for Human Rights, Alejandro Encinas, of “telling lies”.
On Friday, at a press conference, Alfaro criticized both officials and said he will wait to talk directly with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“With them I have nothing to talk about, it is not possible to continue to have a respectful institutional dialogue with officials who are engaged in political and not governing,” he said.
Read: There are already three detainees for Giovanni’s death, one of whom is the municipal commissioner
Hours later, the secretary of the Interior, Olga Sánchez Cordero, rejected the governor’s accusations and pointed out that the Segob only asks for justice for Giovanni.
The federal official said she is in addition to the call for justice and that her unit is in contact with state authorities, who are tasked with investigating the death of the 30-year-old.
He clarified that at no point did he impose any guilt on the governor or say something out of context.
Sánchez Cordero explained that the criticism of the health measures imposed in Jalisco, was after learning of the request of the Undersecretariat for Human Rights to obtain information on the case “because of the likely excessive use of public force”.
“Where’s the imputation? All we’re pointing out is the excessive use of force, where are we qualifying that it was for not using the head cap? Where are we prejudging?” said Segob’s headline.
She even invited the governor to read a tweet about the case written by her, in which she only asks for justice.
As secretary of the Governorate, I add to the so-called #JusticiaParaGiovanni.
We are in contact with state authorities and urge them to have an immediate response to family and society. https://t.co/rFONBPrFw4
— Olga Sánchez Cordero (@M_OlgaSCordero) June 5, 2020
He added that although so far it is an alleged extrajudicial execution, there was a clear violation of human rights, and “of course there was excessive use of force, but that needs to be investigated.”
Alfaro holds stance on federal government
On accusations that the federal government is behind violent acts in Jalisco, Alfaro maintained its stance and said people close to the president “are betting on violence as a route to continue to take care of their interests.”
This after Andrés Manuel López Obrador asked the governor to show evidence of the alleged interference of the federal government in the demonstrations.
At his morning conference on Friday, the federal representative said it has nothing to do with the riots that occurred on Thursday in downtown Guadalajara.
In response, the governor of Jalisco noted that while the president is not giving these instructions, people very close to him and his party are using violence as a way to remain in power.
“Of course I maintain my position that behind this is a number of political interests (…) they are acting without any ethics, because what is sought is to point out or attack directly the state government,” he added.
And defend state cops
On the other hand, Governor Enrique Alfaro defended the role of the State Police in the demonstrations for the death of Giovanni Lopez, ensuring that the elements acted with wisdom and prudence.
At the same conference, Alfaro insisted that the demonstration featured infiltrated persons who provoked acts of violence.
“Yesterday the police acted with all prudence, with all that could be used to withstand an onslaught of people who came to provoke them. I am not going to accept a point in any other way because what the police had to do yesterday was truly an act of discipline and courage that we should all recognize and thank,” he said.
Read: If the governor has evidence to show them, AMLO responds to Alfaro accusations
He said people infiltrated the demonstration were trying to provoke police officers into force.
Despite videos where some state elements are seen violently suppressing people, the governor said the police acted correctly and very cautiously.
On the protest scheduled for Friday, the governor questioned the reasons for doing so whenever there are already detainees for Giovanni’s death and progress on the case is being reported promptly.
“If they want to continue to attack the government, people are free in Jalisco to demonstrate, the only thing I make clear today is that there are many more of us who want peace,” he said.
He added that they would not allow the safety and integrity of the population to be compromised.
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