Five human heads found by a school, but teachers will return to work anyway

The five week old Acapulco teachers' strike has ended. They'll return to their classrooms on Monday. The teachers walked out in late August, after some had received anonymous text or cell phone messages demanding that they turn over 50% of their paychecks to criminal organizations. The government has promised enhanced security patrols around schools and has installed "panic buttons" in many facilities, with a direct connection to the local police station.

Why this motivated the teachers to return to work is beyond me. The extortionists are not going to make a personal appearance in somebody's homeroom to collect their 50% fee. They'll do their work quietly, when and as it's convenient for them. If they have cell phone numbers and email account information, they have home addresses too.

I think the threat to teachers in Guerreo state is still very real. The entire area has become incredibly violent -- one of the three or four worst in Mexico. On September 18 three young teachers, 31, 30 and 20, were ambushed and killed there. Just two days ago, five severed human heads were found near a school in Acapulco, together with the standard narcomensajes -- warnings of "coming attractions" left by the executioners. Authorities say they have no clue who is behind the extortion demands made in August. In other words, nothing has really changed, nothing has really improved and nothing has been solved.
My original story on the Acapulco school closings due to extortion demands received by teachers is here: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/schools-close-in-acapulco-over-narco.html.

Update Saturday, October 1: There are still dozens of schools which will remain closed on Monday. Although the teachers' union in Acapulco reached an accord with the school districts and government officials earlier this week, there were hundreds of dissenters. They said they will not return to their classrooms until the security situation in Guerrero state improves. About 40 schools are expected to remain shut down.