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(CNN Spanish) - Since his arrival in Mexico as a political asylum on Tuesday, former president of Bolivia Evo Morales has been accompanied by members of the Mexican State, said Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Responding to criticism for the security offered by the Government of Mexico to Morales, AMLO said that it is the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA) responsible for the security of the Bolivian ex-president.
López Obrador responded on the issue of security offered by the Morales Government, as some questioned the fact that former members of the Presidential General Staff (EPM) were responsible for the security of former President Morales.
The former president of Bolivia Evo Morales greets upon his arrival at the Historic Center of Mexico City on November 13, 2019. Morales is accompanied by the security group granted by the AMLO government. (Credit: PEDRO PARDO / AFP via Getty Images)
From the beginning of his government, AMLO said he would end this body, whose function was to ensure the safety of the president of Mexico.
"I don't know if there's anything strange about this," AMLO told reporters Thursday. "I do not see it sincerely because the disappearance of the General Staff did not mean liquidating the officers, the elements of this corporation, of this elite body, but was to transfer them to the Defense Secretariat."
“If a character who was in the General Staff now looks after or is in charge of the security of Evo Morales, then that is the explanation: he belongs to the Ministry of Defense and I gave the instruction that the Secretariat of Defense take charge of the protection of President Evo Morales, ”added AMLO.
The president said that agents who were previously part of the Presidential General Staff (EMP) now belong to the Ministry of Defense and that some provide protection to Morales.
“If this character took care of former president Fox or former president (Felipe) Calderón or (Enrique) Peña, well, it could be. Nothing but now has another function, ”said the Mexican president.
AMLO explained that during his government the decision was made to cancel the Presidential General Staff and that this elite body no longer exists. This is due to the high costs for the State that were generated with this elite force. According to AMLO, in 2018 the maintenance of the EMP had a cost of 2,000 million pesos, just over 102 million dollars at the current exchange rate. And 8,000 people were part of this body. “It was an abuse. An excess, an extravagance, ”he said.
“There is no General Staff. What happened to those elements? They went to the Ministry of Defense. Everybody. And when it is needed, as they are already active members in the Defense… they return, ”said AMLO.
The Mexican president said that the plane that was used to transfer Evo Morales to Mexico was formerly operated by the Presidential General Staff, but is now under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense.
AMLO said that Morales requires an escort of that level and the use of high security that the Government is providing, because there is a security risk.
The president compared Morales' situation with that of Russian Leon Trotsky, who arrived in Mexico asylum in 1936, but suffered an attack and was later killed in 1940.
"So yes, we have to take care of those who come as a refuge, asylum, to our country," said AMLO.
Other functions of the General Staff
Although by its name it would be believed that this body would only be intended for the security of the president of Mexico, the truth is that the EMP has within its functions “other delicate and complex missions” such as protecting not only the acting president, but the president elected from Mexico, to the country's former presidents, to the secretaries of state and to other persons who are designated by the Executive, as presidential candidates of different parties.
They also have under their responsibility the logistical support and protection of other foreign dignitaries who arrive in the country, the coordination of security in meetings of heads of state in Mexico and meetings of ministers in the country.
Formerly the EMP operated an air fleet of at least nine aircraft and eight helicopters where senior state officials, foreign heads of government or state who visited Mexico were transported, according to the government's website, but now this is in charge of Sedena, he said AMLO
Evo Morales