Mexican president gives soldiers pay hike as drug war intensifies

By: Associated Press - | Tuesday, February 20, 2007 12:19 AM PST ∞

MEXICO CITY -- Soldiers waging a nationwide offensive against drug traffickers will get a pay hike of nearly 50 percent this year in a bid to insulate them from corruption, Mexican President Felipe Calderon announced Monday.

The increase is the latest move by Calderon to deal with corruption in Mexican law enforcement ranks, where drug traffickers routinely buy off low-paid officers to protect their smuggling routes.

Since taking power in December, Calderon has sent more than 24,000 soldiers and federal police to areas ravaged by drug violence, including Acapulco, Tijuana and the western state of Michoacan. Calderon has also extradited four cartel kingpins to the United States.

Calderon said that rank-and-file troops who earned $319 a month will now take home $474. The increase is retroactive to Jan. 1.

"I am giving special recognition to their courageous participation in the war that will free us from those who have threatened citizens' security and peace and those who are determined to poison the body and soul of our children and youth," the president said during a ceremony honoring troops. Calderon did not say how much the raise would cost the government.

Calderon has also slashed top government salaries -- including his own -- by 10 percent, but excluded law enforcement authorities and soldiers from those cuts.

The president also said Monday that soldiers will be allowed to participate in a special housing credit program.

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1 comment(s)[-]Go to Top

Roger wrote on May 29, 2008 4:48 PM:Hello Mr. Caldron:
It is obviously not a lot is being done to stop the people crossing the borders into the U.S. You can bet if Americans were crossing the border into Mexico You would be having a fit. I say dam up the Rio Grande, out by California, and reef like obsticals on the side closest to your country, the reefs should have barbs like graffling hooks to hold the boats afloat so the people would not drown but hold them until they are captured and sentenced to prison.

I that doesn't work dam it up and place alagators and paranah in the Rio Grande, I am tired of living next to these people that have no mannors or speak english even the mexicans born here can't understand most of the language.
Thanks
Roger

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