Marcy Kaptur: “during the debate over NAFTA, important questions were raised about the relationship between free trade and issues of…”

“during the debate over NAFTA, important questions were raised about the relationship between free trade and issues of democracy and human rights. Congress was told time and time again that with the promotion of free trade there would be a corresponding impetus toward true democracy in Mexico. I wish that I could report that there is a light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel for the Mexican people. Mexico's ruling revolutionary institutional party has maintained power since 1929. It continues to maintain exclusive control over Mexico's electoral apparatus, including voter registration lists and processes, vote tabulation systems, and all bodies responsible for election oversight, review, and certification. The PRI, as its known in Mexico, has shown little inclination towards giving up power. They have selected their candidate for the upcoming presidential elections as they always have. The process was more a coronation than any pretense towards democracy. Now, the PRI is going about the business of making sure their annoited candidate wins the election. Again, as in the past, there is little that the PRI will not do to make sure that happens. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights of the Organization of American States has found Mexico in violation of Article 23 of the American Convention on Human Rights, which requires the holding of genuine elections that guarantee the free expression of the will of the voters.”