Human rights official slams military check points in Tijuana

By Luis Perez
ASSOCIATED PRESS
AP Photo

TIJUANA, Mexico – A state human rights official slammed military check points aimed to weed out drug traffickers in the violent border city of Tijuana, saying they were unnecessary and degrading to citizens.

Francisco Javier Sanchez, head human rights attorney for the government of Baja California, on Wednesday toured round the military check points, which are part of an offensive against drug gangs ordered by President Felipe Calderon.

“These type of check points should not exist, especially with soldiers manning them,” Sanchez told reporters. “We are not in a state of siege.”