Amnesty International (AI) urged the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE) on Friday to cease employing Secretariat of Security police for campus protection, citing violations of global “security and human rights” norms.
“Deploying Federal Protection Service (SPF) personnel—an administrative body with crime-fighting and force-application authority—to provide security and surveillance at CIDE starting December 31, 2021, jeopardizes the complete exercise of academic freedom,” AI declared in an official statement.
This security shift follows the termination of the contract with the private security firm previously safeguarding the Mexico City CIDE campus, currently occupied by students protesting the director’s appointment.
An AI delegation, led by executive director Edith Olivares, visited the institution upon learning of SPF officers’ deployment to CIDE premises.
“This action makes CIDE one of the few academic institutions in the nation protected by a state police force, directly impacting the principle of untouchable academic spaces enshrined in the Inter-American Declaration on Academic Freedom and University Autonomy,” Olivares stated.
The student demonstrations began over a month ago, triggered by administrative changes and the appointment of José Antonio Romero Tellaeche as CIDE’s new director. He had served as interim director since August, despite accusations of “arbitrary actions”.
During this appointment, numerous students rallied outside the institute’s headquarters in western Mexico City, chanting slogans like “CIDE resists” and “No backroom deals.”
Subsequent student-administration discussions have occurred, yet disagreements linger.
The SPF’s presence at CIDE heightens tensions amidst ongoing student and faculty-led protests.
“State security forces on campus can stifle freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” the organization reported.
Therefore, the organization pledged continued efforts to ensure the protesters’ human rights are upheld.
CIDE is widely recognized as a leading public research institution in Mexico.
IM
Read also
.
Amnesty International Slams Mexico’s CIDE for Using Federal Police on Campus: A Chilling Sign for Academic Freedom?
Amnesty International’s (AI) sharp rebuke of the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE) in Mexico City marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict surrounding the institution. AI’s call to end the use of the Federal Protection Service (SPF), a body with law enforcement powers, for campus security is a damning indictment of the Mexican government’s handling of the situation. The move, AI argues, directly threatens academic freedom and violates international human rights norms.
The issue stems from the recent termination of CIDE’s contract with a private security firm, a decision that coincided with student protests against the appointment of a new director. Replacing the private security with SPF personnel, beginning December 31st, 2021, is where AI draws the line. The organization highlights the crucial distinction: a private security firm, however flawed, is fundamentally different from a heavily armed law enforcement agency. The presence of the SPF isn’t just security; it’s a potential for intimidation and suppression.
This isn’t simply about a change in security providers; it’s about the potential for chilling effects on academic discourse. The deployment of the SPF sends a clear message: dissent will be met with the force of the state. Students protesting the director’s appointment are now subject to surveillance and the potential for heavy-handed intervention by a body trained in crowd control and law enforcement, not campus security. This raises serious concerns about the ability of students and faculty to freely express their opinions and engage in critical analysis without fear of reprisal.
The timing is also significant. The protests themselves point to deeper issues within CIDE concerning governance and the autonomy of the institution. The government’s response, deploying the SPF, appears to be a heavy-handed attempt to quell dissent rather than address the underlying concerns. This tactic risks undermining the very principles of academic freedom and open debate that are essential for a healthy and productive learning environment.
The AI statement is not merely a criticism; it’s a warning. It highlights the potential for the Mexican government to set a dangerous precedent, one that could embolden other institutions to use state power to silence dissent. The international community, through organizations like Amnesty International, will be watching closely to see if the Mexican government heeds this call to action and prioritizes academic freedom over the suppression of student protests. The future of CIDE, and perhaps the broader landscape of academic freedom in Mexico, hangs in the balance.