The Mexican government marked the 25th anniversary of the semi-official National Human Rights Commission (CNDH). But the official ceremony was marked by controversy as CNDH ombudsman Luis Raul Gonzalez told President Enrique Peña Nieto that the country's governance and democracy were at risk. Gonzalez cited the persistence of massive human rights abuses, widespread use of torture, and impunity. Peña Nieto, while not responding to specifics, praised the CNDH. This contrasts with the view held by analysts and civil society, which charge that the CNDH has done virtually nothing to improve Mexico's human rights panorama. Meanwhile, amid growing violence ahead of Sunday's mid-term elections, particularly in four southern Mexican states, National Electoral Institute president Lorenzo Cordova said it would not call for police intervention as it would not be advisable to militarize the elections. teleSUR
