Juarenses get access to info, open trials

By Louie Gilot / El Paso Times
Article Launched:01/15/2007 09:20:53 AM MST

JUAREZ - There will be greater openness in government in Mexico this year.

This year, U.S.-style oral trials start in the state of Chihuahua and in Juárez, ending the practice of conducting trials behind closed doors though written submissions to a judge.

And the Law of Transparency and Access to Information of the state of Chihuahua took effect this month, putting government information such as statistics and budgets online and allowing citizens to request specific information through a system similar to the U.S. freedom of information laws.

The result so far? Web surfers can find the actual text of laws, public contracts, statistics and other information on the city of Juárez's Web site, www.juarez.gob.mx. And 20 people have filed specific queries with the city, although city officials said they could not say what the requests were because they had not yet been reviewed.

"If they want to know how much the mayor makes, then that information is online," city spokesman Raul Martinez said.