South of the Border
El Debate (Sinaloa) 2/1/10
January, "a month of barbarity"
The month of January was one of "barbarity" in the state of Sinaloa, with 230 assassinations recorded, many of them with cruelty never before seen. Nearly all of the violence was generated by warfare and challenges between organized criminal groups. The 31 days saw car-to-car executions, abductions, decapitations, dismemberments, hangings and even to removing a victim's face to display on a ball. In the history of Guasave, Mazatlan and Los Mochis, and actually in the entire state, there have never been so many homicides in only one month. In just 20 days, Mazatlan surpassed in assassinations the first six months of 2009. On the state level, the number of crimes in January surpassed the first quarter of last year and the first four months of 2008. The article concludes: "Sinaloa is more than ever a land without law."
El Universal (Mexico City) 2/1/10
La Familia Michoacána calls for the elimination of Los Zetas
In the wave of attacks against the police in Michoacán, narco-banners have begun to appear around the state capital city of Morelia charging links between the federal police and Los Zetas, the armed branch of the Gulf cartel. The messages invite the public to unite on a common front and do away with Los Zetas, whom they call "the worst kind of beasts." According to the banners, besides La Familia Michoacána, their equivalent organizations in the states of Mexico and Guerrero expect to join together as "Familia Mexicana."
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El Imparcial (Hermosillo, Sonora) 2/1/10
Narco rivals "collide"
A gun battle between rival narco groups in Magdalena, Sonora, left seven dead. From the battleground in the center of town, authorities collected seven AK-47 assault rifles, one 12-gauge shotgun and seven vehicles. Investigators are presently guessing the two rival groups simply ran into one another while cruising the streets in the wee hours of the morning.
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Student massacre an error?
In the aftermath of Sunday's attack on a group of youths at a party in Cd. Juarez that left 14 of them dead and another 14 in the hospital, neighbors and survivors have no idea of the motive behind the attack. The party was just a gathering of friends, according to a witness. "They weren't harming anyone," he said, "they must have been a mistaken target." He added, "The only thing I can say is that it was a gathering of friends, of youths in high school, with kids and adolescents. I believe it was a mistake."
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El Informador (Guadalajara, Jalisco) 2/1/10
Student deaths rise
The mayor of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, reported that the number of deaths in the attack on the student gathering Sunday is now 16 and those injured 12. The mayor also said he has received five calls so far today giving important data about the multi-homicide. A reward of a million pesos has been offered for information leading to the arrests of the attackers.
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El Diario de Juarez (Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua) 2/1/10
Another attack in Cd. Juarez
Unofficial sources indicate that an attack at a crowded dance hall in Cd. Juarez killed four people and wounded a dozen more. The incident began when four people riding in a vehicle began to be chased by a group of armed men. The four, a woman and three men, parked in front of the dance hall and entered, seeking refuge. The armed men followed and gunned them down inside, injuring 12 others in the crowd.
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Merida Initiative back in the news
A ranking member of the left-leaning PRD party lamented that the Merida Initiative [US assistance to Mexico in the narco-war] has had scant results to benefit Mexico. He said that at the moment, "Mexico is alone in its war against organized crime." El Universal reports a similar view from the opposition ruling party, PAN. A ranking member of President Calderón's party said the plan seems a deception by the US. He said that the US should take responsibility in combating organized crime, against which Mexico wages a determined war. He said, "I see no conviction by the US to combat the crime."
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