"A historical stain for Mexico": AMLO honors the dictator Díaz-Canel with the Order of the Aztec Eagle

The President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), will decorate this Saturday, February 11, the Cuban dictator Miguel Díaz-Canel with the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest distinction granted to foreigners, reported the Official Gazette of the Federation ( DOF).

The ceremony will take place in the city of Campeche, capital of the homonymous state located in the southeast of the country, where López Obrador plans to meet with Díaz-Canel on his fourth visit to Mexico since he was designated "president of Cuba" by General Raúl Castro.

Following the announcement, several activists and politicians criticized AMLO. Human rights defender Agustín Antonetti expressed his rejection and regretted that "the brutal and inhuman Cuban dictator Díaz-Canel is recognized with the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest distinction granted to a foreigner."

It is a sad day for democracy in Latin America. President Lopez Obrador will award the brutal and inhumane Cuban dictator Diaz Canel with the Order of the Aztec Eagle, the highest distinction for a foreigner. It is an international shame. It will be a historical stain for Mexico.

— Agustín Antonetti (@agusantonetti) February 10, 2023

For his part, former Mexican deputy Fernando Belaunzarán also reproached the ordainment of the high distinction to the "Cuban dictator, Miguel Díaz-Canel, who has his dungeons full of political prisoners." The politician and columnist for the newspaper Excelsior opposed the communist ruler being honored on behalf of the Mexican people. In addition, he published the song Patria y Vida, the new anthem for the freedom in Cuba.

Not in my name.

President @lopezobrador_ is going to decorate the Cuban dictator, Miguel Díaz-Canel, with El Águila Azteca, who has his dungeons full of political prisoners.

I object.

There are young people imprisoned for singing this song https://t.co/6tFrUiIqWp

— Fernando Belaunzarán (@ferbelaunzaran) February 10, 2023

“Very unfortunate and a shame for Mexicans. López is not really a leftist at heart, he is a vulgar corrupt, criminal, ridiculous apprentice dictator. My solidarity with the citizens of Cuba”, opined a Mexican on Twitter.

“Among Communists they pat each other on the back! Latin America hurts!" criticized another Twitter user.

According to what was published in the DOF, "it is the purpose of the government of the United Mexican States to recognize His Excellency Mr. Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, President of the Republic of Cuba, for his work in strengthening the relations of friendship and cooperation between Mexico and Cuba".

This recognition has been granted to personalities such as Nelson Rockefeller, Bill Gates, Rigoberta Menchú, Nelson Mandela, Mario Vargas Llosa, José Mujica and Jean-Yves Le Drian, according to Aristegui Noticias. It was also received in 1988 by the former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Apparently, Díaz-Canel's visit to Mexico is to be honored by AMLO in gratitude for sending almost 600 Cuban doctors, hired to work in hospitals of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), located in remote areas of the country.

The visit also prompted the public rejection of the renowned Mexican journalist and writer Jorge Ramos, who denounced on his Twitter profile this Friday that "Cuba has been a dictatorship since 1959."

“Amnesty International reports political prisoners, arbitrary detentions and the absence of an independent press. There are no free or multiparty elections,” added the reporter and presenter for Univision.

The journalist described the Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel as a "brutal dictator" and asked Mexico not to be an "accomplice" of the Castro regime. "Silence is not an option," concluded Ramos.