September 16, 2008
M3 Report  
Mexico - Independence Day celebration in public plaza marred by explosions - Eight Dead - over 100 Injured
El Universal (Mexico City) and most other major news sources
In Morelia, Michoacán, the Mexican independence day celebration in a public plaza was marred by explosions that left eight dead and over a hundred injured, according to a statement by Governor Leonel Godoy.  At present it is presumed that fragmentation grenades were tossed on the ground into celebrating crowds and the shrapnel shattered legs. 

Those killed had bled to death.  Just before the explosions, witnesses saw four men, dressed in black and with shaved heads, running away.  ”It was like a ball of fire,” said another witness who suffered fractures in her feet. She said the explosion happened precisely when the crowd shouted the last “Viva México.”  Although secruity had been provided by city police, there were no provisions for any weapons search of those attending.

The president of the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH), José Luís Soberanes, stated, “When there is an open attack on the people, it is terrorism and an act of sabotage.”  He said the attack in Morelia is a message by organized crime for the country because “this is the home state of President Calderón and because it happened on September 15 during the festivities most special for the people of Mexico.”  Columnist Ricardo Alemán observed, “This is open terrorism against the civil polulation.  It cost lives and the object is to create terror and send a message to the government.”  He added that he sees this as an “intermediate escalation” aimed at state government.  ”It is a terrorist act planned to demonstrate the power of this group, that to me is the narco, and send a message to the state government and by that, to the federal government.

In one of his toughest speeches yet against organized crime, President Felipe Calderón warned that those who attempt to terrorize the Mexican people through their acts are mistaken and, to the contrary, will bring on the force of the State to defeat them.

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El Financiero (Mexico City) 9/16/08
Mexico and Cuba expect to finalize an accord in October regarding migratory issues and assistance.  The October meeting should end a series of meetings between the two countries to work out details.  None of the information released gave details regarding the immigration agreements.
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El Imparcial (Hermosillo, Sonora) 9/16/08
Another type of banner appeared in Tampico, Tamaulipas, this one apparently from the people to the Army: “Enough abuses from the military, you’re here to look after us and protect us, not to harass us.”
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-end of report-
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FORMER BORDER PATROL OFFICERS
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Foreign News Report

The National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers (NAFBPO) extracts and condenses the material that follows from Mexican and Central and South American on-line media sources on a daily basis.