Mexico: The Special Forces Airmobile Group (Grupo Aeromovil de Fuerzas Especiales, GAFE); recourse available to those targeted by this group (2006 - November 2007)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 7 December 2007 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MEX102662.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: The Special Forces Airmobile Group (Grupo Aeromovil de Fuerzas Especiales, GAFE); recourse available to those targeted by this group (2006 - November 2007), 7 December 2007, MEX102662.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/47d6546523.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Special Forces Airmobile Group (Grupo Aeromovil de Fuerzas Especiales, GAFE) is a military entity under the Ministry of National Defence (Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional, SEDENA) (Mexico n.d.; Professor, Guadalajara 1 Nov. 2007). Originally created in 1986 as a special forces unit called Rapid Intervention Forces (Fuerzas de Intervencion Rapida) (Mexico n.d.; Professor, Guadalajara 1 Nov. 2007), GAFE came into formal existence in 1990 (ibid.). In 1 November 2007 correspondence, a professor and researcher based at the University of Guadalajara who specializes in military issues in Mexico explained that GAFE operates in autonomous, flexible, mobile units with a capacity to respond quickly to internal security concerns such as drug-trafficking and insurgent activities. The Center for Public Integrity, a Washington-based non-governmental organization for investigative journalism (n.d.a) reports that "GAFE forces wear camouflage uniforms for jungle warfare, black overalls and ski masks for urban operations" (n.d.b).
According to the Professor from Guadalajara, each military zone and military region of Mexico has a GAFE unit which takes orders from its respective military zone and regional zone commanders (1 Nov. 2007). Estimates on the number of military zones vary: the Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook indicates that there are 35 military zones in Mexico (2006, 1297), while a Mexican newspaper, La Jornada, indicates that there are 45 (8 Aug. 2005). The Professor from Guadalajara further noted that the SEDENA does not publicly disclose how many soldiers work in GAFE (1 Nov. 2007). However, in a 28 March 2004 article, Mexico City-based newspaper El Universal reported that GAFE consisted of 5,500 soldiers. In contrast, the Center for Public Integrity suggests in an undated report that there are 73 air-mobile units and 36 amphibious units with an estimated 30 soldiers per unit (n.d.b).
Regarding current activities of GAFE, the Professor noted that, for the most part, GAFE units participate in joint operations with the police to combat organized crime activities (Professor, Guadalajara 1 Nov. 2007). Mexican news sources of 2006 also reported on joint GAFE / law enforcement operations (El Universal 24 Jan. 2006; ibid. 22 Feb. 2006). For example, in January 2006, 25 GAFE soldiers teamed up with federal police forces in an operation against drug-traffickers in Mexico City (El Universal 24 Jan. 2006). In February 2006, 120 GAFE soldiers were deployed alongside Federal Investigation Agency (Agencia Federal de Investigacion, AFI) officers in Nuevo Leon state to capture four individuals suspected of being connected to the Sinaloa drug cartel (ibid. 22 Feb. 2006).
In July 2007, in the wake of attacks on gas pipelines in Guanajuato and Queretaro states, allegedly by the insurgent group People's Revolutionary Army (Ejercito Popular Revolucionario, EPR), the Mexican government sent over a thousand GAFE troops, in coordination with federal support forces, to increase surveillance at oil and thermoelectric facilities in various states (El Sol de Mexico 11 July 2007).
On whether GAFE has been involved in committing human rights abuses in the past two years, a Professor from Claremont McKenna College, California who specializes in military issues in Mexico indicated that he was not aware of GAFE soldiers being specifically involved in human rights violations during this time period (27 Oct. 2007). However, the University of Guadalajara professor believed that there has been an increase in alleged human rights violations committed by the military, including GAFE units, as they have taken on more duties related to maintaining public security (1 Nov. 2007). Both professors noted that allegations of violations committed by the military would be investigated by the National Human Rights Commission (Comision Nacional de los Derechos Humanos, CNDH) and that this institution would have information on record (Professor, California 27 Oct. 2007; Professor, Guadalajara 1 Nov. 2007). On its website, the CNDH makes available six lengthy recommendations concerning the actions of SEDENA regarding the military's role in violent incidents of 2006 and 2007 involving civilians in the states of Oaxaca, Michoacan, Sinaloa, Veracruz and Coahuila (2007). Specific mention of GAFE is not made in these recommendations (CNDH 2007).
In August 2007, however, La Jornada reported that over 150 alleged GAFE soldiers conducted a secretive operation in a neighbourhood in Mexico City in which four homes were searched, apparently for suspected EPR members (La Jornada 2 Aug. 2007). In their search, the presumed GAFE soldiers sported balaclavas, obscured the serial numbers on their vehicles, confiscated cell phones, and took identification cards, other documents and cash from civilians (ibid.). The soldiers reportedly failed to show search warrants and photographed everyone in the homes they searched, including children (ibid.). Witnesses to the incident also reported that the soldiers pointed assault rifles at municipal police patrol vehicles, ordering the police to leave (ibid.). One family has filed a complaint of breaking and entering and property damage (ibid.). No federal, state or municipal authority offered an official statement about the incident in question (ibid.). Corroborating information about this incident could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
News sources also note that an issue of concern regarding GAFE is the high rate of desertion of soldiers from its active ranks (Latinnews Daily 4 July 2007; El Financiero 31 Oct. 2006). The Latinnews Daily reported in July 2007 that the GAFE "desertion rate in their first eight years of existence was almost 25 %, more than twice the overall rate for the army" (4 July 2007). Mexican news sources further noted in 2006 that some 1,383 GAFE soldiers had deserted their positions from 2000 to 2005 (La Jornada 8 Aug. 2005; El Financiero 31 Oct. 2006). Various sources suggest that a number of former GAFE personnel have gone on to form the drug-trafficking gang the Zetas (ibid.; La Jornada 8 Aug. 2005; US 16 Oct. 2007, 7). According to an October 2007 United States (US) Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, the Zetas were created in the late 1990s by some 30 former GAFE officers (ibid.). Operating as a "'private army'" for the Gulf cartel, the Zetas carry out assassinations, collect payments and protect drug routes (ibid., 7-8).
With regard to recourse available to individuals allegedly targeted by the GAFE, the professors noted that individuals can file a complaint against military officials who allegedly commit abuse with the CNDH (Professor, Guadalajara 1 Nov. 2007; Professor, California 27 Oct. 2007). In addition, the Professor from Guadalajara stated that victims could also report alleged crimes to the military itself; however, the Professor suggested that the military justice system tends to protect members of the military facing allegations (1 Nov. 2007).
According to the Center for Public Integrity, after a 1997 incident where GAFE soldiers went on a "violent rampage" in the town of Ocotan, Jalisco state, 27 GAFE soldiers were "charged in military court with kidnapping and other crimes" while their commanders were charged with homicide (n.d.b). The same report concluded the following:
In late 1999, a military court absolved most of the accused soldiers, who remained in the military. But the two GAFE commanders paid dearly for the torture, murder and clandestine burial of Salvador Jimnez. [Commander] Guerrero was sentenced to 15 years in prison, while [Commander] Sols was sentenced to 16 years. A third officer, Lt. Edson Morales, served three years and was discharged from the army. The Military Prosecutors Office paid the mother of Salvador Jimnez about $7,000 in compensation for her son's murder. (Center for Public Integrity n.d.b)
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
The Center for Public Integrity. N.d.a. "The Mission of the Center for Public Integrity."
_____. N.d.b. "U.S.-Trained Forces Linked to Human Rights Abuses."
Comision Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (CNDH). 2007. "Recomendaciones 1990 – 2006."
Defense & Foreign Affairs Handbook. 2006. 16th edition. Edited by Gregory R. Copley. Alexandria, Virgiania: International Strategic Studies Association.
El Financiero. 31 October 2006. Jose Reveles. "Desertan en masa elementos del Ejercito." (Factiva)
La Jornada [Mexico City]. 2 August 2007. Rene Ramon and Gustavo Castillo. "Catea el Ejercito viviendas en Neza, en busca de guerrilleros del EPR."
_____. 8 August 2005. Jesus Aranda. "Ser implacables con ex gafes que delinquen, codigo no escrito del Ejercito Mexicano."
Latinnews Daily. 4 July 2007. "Security Update." (Factiva)
Mexico. N.d. Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA). "Fuerzas Especiales I."
Professor, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico. 1 November 2007. Correspondence.
Professor, Claremont McKenna College, California. 27 October 2007. Correspondence.
El Sol de Mexico. 11 July 2007. Manrique Gandaria. "Refuerzan militares vigilancia en instalaciones de Pemex."
United States (US). 16 October 2007. Colleen W. Cook. Congressional Research Service (CRS). "Mexico's Drug Cartels."
El Universal [Mexico City]. 22 February 2006. Jorge Alejandro Medellin and Silvia Otero. "Cateo antinarco en zona residencial de Monterrey."
_____. 24 January 2006. Rubelio Fernandez. "Catean casa de presuntos narcos en Bosque de las Lomas."
_____. 28 March 2004. Jorge Medellin. "Desertan 1,382 militares de elite."
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Amnesty International (AI), Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch (HRW), Interhemispheric Reource Center (IRC), Jane's Defence, Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), United States Department of State, World News Connection.
