Border Blogs: Expressing our Border Culture

According to a WikiLeaks (08STATE105491) diplomatic cable release, Honduran light anti-tank weapons (LAWs) and grenades supplied to them under America’s Foreign Military Sales program have been recovered in Mexico and Columbia. The diplomatic cable asks its foreign post to raise the issue of the weapons with the Honduran government. According to the cable, the US Embassy is to ensure that the Honduran government “understands their legal end-use obligations with respect to control of U.S.-origin defense articles”.

The diplomatic cable states that according to a July 9, 2008 Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, three anti-tank weapons (LAWs) were recovered in Mexico City in January 2008, one was recovered in Cd. Juárez, México in April 2008 and six more were recovered in Columbia on March 2008.

According to the cable, the Honduran government undertook an internal military investigation and determined that the 2nd Infantry Battalion could not account for 26 of the 50 LAWs transferred to Honduras.

Additionally, at least two U.S.-produced M433 40-mm grenades have been recovered in Columbia and Mexico, according to the DIA report. The cable adds that the only foreign sale of the M433 40-mm grenades was to Honduras in 1985.

Title: Lucha antinarco debe ser global
Source: Reforma
Date: May 19, 2011
Byline: None

Reforma reports that Columbia president Juan Manuel Santos stated that the “battle against drug trafficking organizations is a global battle, a single country cannot battle alone against such odds”, during the 71st anniversary celebrations of the country’s police school.

Santos is quoted as adding that Mexico has paid a significant price.

Santos also gave Genaro García Luna, director of the Mexican Public Security Administration and John Morton, director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the merit medal in the category of exceptional service.

Unofficial sources reported vigilante activity in Nuevo Laredo on May 19, 2011. The unconfirmed reports via the Internet include pictures of a body of a man alongside a cardboard, handwritten sign baring a message to the public.

The message reads, in Spanish:

“The families must be respected. They should not be blamed for the situation. The one at fault should pay, the innocent should be respected. If you continue to hurt innocent families, we will hurt yours. From the lowest to the highest levels, regardless of who it is.”

The Spanish version is grammatically incorrect.

According to unconfirmed reports, the authorities in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas received an anonymous call at 2:00 am reporting a body. The body, of a man was found shot through the back of the head with the sign next to it. Responding authorities found the body and the message next to the statue of Christopher Columbus.

Title: Suspected killer of immigration agent faces extradition to US
Source: CNN
Date: May 17, 2011
Byline: CNN Wire Staff

CNN reports that the United States has formally requested the extradition of Julian Zapata Espinoza, alias “El Piolin” for the “probable responsibility” in the death of ICE agent Jaime Zapata on February 15, 2011. Zapata Espinoza stated, shortly after his arrest in February 2011, that “they thought” the vehicle in which agent Zapata and another agent were riding in “was owned by a rival” drug trafficking group, according to the news report. CNN adds that Zapata Espinoza has been transferred to another prison to be processed to determine if he will be extradited.

A one minute, ten second video, released via the Internet in the last few days, purports to be the interrogation of an alleged assassin (sicario) for the Chapo Guzman drug trafficking organization (DTO). The individual presented via the video is handcuffed with his hands in front of him, his eyes blindfolded with packing tape and wearing a camouflage military uniform without insignia. The individual is first interrogated by someone off camera and then shot in the head.

He is first asked his name. His response is difficult to understand except for “Ortega”, which according to Mexican custom, would be his maternal last name. He is then asked what he does for a living. His response is that he is an assassin (sicario) for “Chapo”. He is then asked where he lives to which he replies “Santiago Papasquiaro, Durango”. He is then asked how much he is paid. He replies $N8,000 Pesos a month, approximately $680 USD.

The video dialog is difficult to follow at this point but it appears that the alleged assassin is asked who the leader is in the town where he lives and he replies that a “coronel” whose name is undecipherable. He is then asked how he knows this and he replies because he delivered $N5 million to him in the last month.

The captive adds that there are about 100 assassins (sicarios) working in the area. He is then asked what they are doing in the area and he replies that they are there to execute people in order to “steal their money” and make them “work” for the Chapo organization.

He is then asked if he personally knows the “colonel” to which he replies that he delivered the $N5 million to him. He is then shot in the head.

Title: Mexican jail governor decapitated
Source: BBC
Date: May 13, 2011
Byline: None

The BBC reports that among the additional eight dead bodies Durango is the body of deputy governor of Durango’s prisons who was abducted on May 9, 2011. According to the news report, Gerardo Galindo’s head was discovered next to a wall with a “threatening message” from a local gang.

The total count of recovered bodies in Durango is at 196, according to the BBC.

Title: Six die in Honduras drug clash
Source: BBC
Date: May 12, 2011
Byline: None

The BBC reports that “six suspected drug traffickers” were killed in a confrontation with police. According to the news report, seven individuals were arrested by authorities who accuse them of working for drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) in the city of Catacamas.

The BBC adds that an Honduran journalist; Francisco Medina, was shot near his home. According to the news report, 11 Honduran reporters have been killed in the last 18 months. Medina was the first reporter killed in 2011.

Title: RI lawmaker faces arraignment in Conn. drug case
Source: AP
Date: May 8, 2011
Byline: None

The AP reports the Rhode Island Representative Robert Watson (R), former Rhode Island House minority leader, is scheduled to make a court appearance on May 11, 2011 for drunken driving and drug possession. According to the police report, quoted by the AP, police stated that “Watson smelled of alcohol and marijuana when they stopped him on April 22″, 2011.

According to the AP, Watson has stated that he consumed “several” drinks but was not drunk when he was arrested. He is also quoted as stating that “he uses marijuana to treat recurring pain from pancreatitis”.

Title: Hallan avioneta sin sobrevivientes
Source: Reforma
Date: May 7, 2011
Byline: None

Reforma reports that a Bolivian military aircraft with two Bolivian military personnel and four UN military personnel was found Saturday, May 7, 2011 crashed in the jungle with all on board dead. According to Reforma, which quotes a Bolivian military press conference, that the aircraft crashed into a tree 50 meters above ground, 180 kilometers from La Paz.

The aircraft had disappeared on Thursday, May 5, 2011, according to the news piece. The aircraft was on a cocaine eradication mission.

Title: Prepara EZLN marcha en apoyo a Sicilia
Source: Reforma
Date: May 7, 2011
Byline: Martín Morita

Reforma reports that 5,000 members of the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN) are preparing to march in support of poet Javier Sicilia’s march for peace.

According to Reforma, the members of the EZLN will march in silence from the Centro Indígena de Capacitación Integral to the Cathedral of San Cristóbal de las Casas where they will read a communiqué stating their position on the violence in Mexico.

Reforma also reports that commanders “Tacho” and “David” will lead the march adding that Subcomandante Marcos may make a presence.

Title: Apoyan médicos de Juárez a Sicilia
Source: Reforma
Date: May 7, 2011
Byline: Enrique Lomas

Reforma reports that the medical community in Cd. Juárez supports Sicilia’s movement against the violence. According to Reforma, the medical community practices medicine in secret, making patient visits only with those that they are familiar with because of the fear of criminal activity.

Reforma quotes Leticia Chavarría, board member of the Citizen Medical Committee, as admitting that cases of kidnappings of medical professionals have diminished, but other crimes against them, like intimidation, extortion and assaults remain.

Title: Mexican federal police: Juárez mayor’s guards looked like organized crime gunmen
Source: El Paso Times
Date: May 5, 2011
Byline: Marisela Ortega Lozano

The El Paso Times reports that the Mexican Department of Public Safety stated that Juárez mayor Héctor Murguía’s body guards looked like “organized crime gunmen”, and that is why they were stopped.

The paper quotes a federal police statement as stating that at 3:00 they came upon a “convoy of heavy armed individuals riding in three vehicles and speeding, looking and behaving like organized crime gunmen,” the official said in a statement.

The paper goes on to report that after asking for backup, the federal officers stopped the convoy, at which time passengers on the “second vehicle identified themselves verbally as local police officers, but they didn’t produce any badge or identification”.

The report adds that Murguía got out from one of the vehicles and that is when the confrontation started. The news article states that Murguía alleges that his bodyguards produced their police badges to federal officers, although the federal statement denies this.

Title: Juárez mayor confronts feds: “You don’t rule city”
Source: El Paso Times
Date: May 5, 2011
Byline: Daniel Borunda

The El Paso newspaper reports that Juárez mayor Héctor Murgía had a “heated” exchange with Mexican Federal police on May 4, 2011 on a city street. According to the report, Murgía chastised federal agents after the agents pointed their weapons at Murgía’s bodyguards. The paper quotes the mayor as yelling to the federal agents that they do not rule the city and that they can’t aim their guns at his body guards.

The report adds that Murgía told the federal agents that he was “commander of all municipal police” in the city. The paper states that the federal police had no comments.

Title: Mexicans urged to back drug fight
Source: BBC
Date: May 5, 2011
Byline: None

The BBC is reporting that President Calderón made a call for Mexicans to remain united in the fight against the drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) via television. The BBC states that Calderón stated that there is no option to abandon the fight.

Poet Javier Sicilia has called for a protest march across Mexico after his son was murdered in March 2011. His body was one of seven found in Cuernavaca. The BBC states that Sicilia blames “both the government and the criminal gangs for the violence, saying they have ‘torn apart the fabric of the nation’”. The news report adds that Sicilia has become the figure head of the anti-violence movement.

The news piece reports that Calderón states the the country must remain the course, adding that Calderón said that judicial and security reforms were needed and those took time. The BBC quotes Calderón as stating, in response to call to end the violence that, “[o]n the contrary, we must redouble our efforts because if we stop fighting they will kidnap, rob and kill all over the country.”

Title: Sicarios cruzan a EP para evitar problemas en Juárez
Source: Diario de El Paso
Date: May 4, 2011
Byline: Alberto Ponce de León

The Diario de El Paso reports that Gomecindo Lopez, commander of the El Paso Sheriff’s department of Special Operations, as testifying before an American Congressional committee that he considers it “viable” that members of “cartels and assassins” live in El Paso County. The paper adds that Lopez also stated that he thinks members of DTOs also cross into El Paso, Texas from Cd. Juárez to “avoid problems” in Juárez.

The paper quotes Lopez; “We know we have members of cartels, we know we have cartel assassins living on the US side”, adding “typically what they do is that they do their “job” in Mexico and then return to the US”. The news report adds that during a telephone interview, Lopez stated that his comments were made based on specific cases. The article reports that he mentioned the kidnapping of Sergio Saucedo and the murder of ICE informant Jose Gonzalez Galeana. The paper also reports that Lopez said that he may have been “misquoted” because he did not have time to elaborate his comments, adding he was talking more in general to the Barrio Azteca that operates on both sides of the border, the news piece clarified.

Title: Pancho Villa relative Mexico’s new tough cop
Source: AP
Date: May 4, 2011
Byline: E. Eduardo Castillo

The AP reports that retired Mexican army Gen. Carlos Bibiano Villa Castillo has been appointed the new director of security for the state of Quintana Roo. According to the report, Villa received a note from the Zetas that stated that he was “next”. According to the AP, the reference to “next” seems to be the kidnapping, torture and murder of Villa’s predecessor two years previously.

The news report quotes Mexico’s Institute for Security and Democracy as stating that 17 of Mexico’s 32 states have former military officers leading their security departments. The article also quotes the newspaper Reforma as stating that in 2009, only six states’ security offices were led by former military leaders.

The report adds that the Coahuila state commission on human rights opened four investigations against Villa for alleged arbitrary detentions by his department which he led for 15 months prior to his recent appointment. The paper reports that the commission did not provide information on the outcomes of the investigations.

Title: Mexico peace marches planned
Source: El Paso Times
Date: May 4, 2011
Byline: Alejandro Martínez-Cabrera

The El Paso Times reports that Emilio Gutiérrez, a Mexican journalist seeking asylum in the US, will lead a group in Mesilla New Mexico in a rally in support of peace in Mexico. According to the paper, the rally is part of a larger rally planned all across Mexico.

The paper reports that the national march was called by poet and journalist Javier Sicilla, whose son was found dead on March of 2011. The poet’s son’s body was found along with a sign with the initials “CDG”. According to the report, the initials signify the Gulf DTO.

The march’s battle cry is a demand to end drug activity in Mexico, reports the newspaper.

Title: Tránsitos patrullan armados y encañonan a conductores
Source: El Diario de Juárez
Date: May 4, 2011
Byline: None

The Diario de Juárez reports that Juárez transit police are traveling in groups of two or more and positioning themselves by surrounding vehicles in armed stances while giving motorists citations for traffic violations. According to the news report, in one instance, three patrolmen in one vehicle pulled over a motorist. As one officer issued a citation four other patrolmen, two motorcycle patrols had joined them, stood with assault rifles around the motorist.

The paper reports that various motorists reported the new traffic stops to media outlets, some protesting what they considered abuse of authority. Officials had no comments about the new strategy, according to the report.

Title: Narco corridos banned in Chihuahua
Source: El Paso Times
Date: May 4, 2011
Byline: Marisela Ortega Lozano

The El Paso Times reports that Chihuahua’s Congress banned “narco corridos” on May 4, 2011. According to the news outlet, Congressman Ricardo Alan Boone introduced the bill on April 12, 2011.

The paper quotes lawmakers as stating in a press release that narco corridos “praises the deeds of so called heroes for our young people, mainly in regions living in poverty and facing scarce education opportunities”.

The paper printed that “Congressman Raúl García Ruiz, president of the Government Rules and Constitution Committee, and Congressmen Jorge Abraham Ramírez Alvídrez signed the bill, along with Ricard Alan Boone, the bill’s author”.

Title: Germany’s president backs Mexico’s war on drug cartels
Source: Fox News
Date: May 3, 2011
Byline: None

Fox News reports that German president Christian Wulff expressed support for Mexico’s war against the drug trafficking organizations during his visit to Mexico City. According to the report, Wulff stated that human rights should be respected. The Fox News adds that Wulff expressed a desire for Germany and Mexico to exchange security forces.