MIJ Minister takes Mayors Bernal and Rangel to task for soaring crime rates

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Interior & Justice (MIJ) Minister General (ret.) Lucas Rincon Romero has summonsed Sucre and Libertador mayors respectively to complain about the soaring homicide and crime rates in their jurisdictions. 

Rincon Romero has told both mayors that he wants to see a significant drop in  crime and more concern about public insecurity.

The Minister has announced he will use joint patrols consisting of police forces and the National Guard (GN) as well as the State Political & Security (DISIP) Police agents to beef up security, especially in Libertador municipality.

Critics reply that it is not enough and that the government has failed to draw up and propose a coherent public security plan.

PROVEA human rights group agrees that the government has neglected to enforce State policy in security matters ... "combined with the hike in crime, it shows the government's incapacity to exercise the monopoly of violence that puts governance at risk."