The Mexican state of Guerrero has been an epicenter of narco violence in recent years, seriously impacting the international tourist trade there. The area has been under a special military operation since the last quarter of 2011, and it looked like the security situation might be improving. On February 14 I posted on a state government report which claimed that narco executions had dropped sharply since federal troops assumed policing duties, but now it looks like the same old pattern is resuming.
Yesterday (Mar. 18) 10 severed heads were discovered in Acapulco's environs, three women and seven men. The victims haven't been identified yet, and there have been no follow up stories of consequence. This morning Guerrero's security spokesperson reports that last night, six police vehicles on routine patrol were attacked by squads of heavily armed gunmen. Twelve police officers were killed in the brutal assault, six of whom were attached to municipal units and six to the state police force. Eleven others were seriously wounded, some of whom may not survive. There's no indication of a connection between the crimes.
Canadians and U.S. citizens can scarcely imagine what the news coverage would be like in their own counties if such events occurred within a 24 hour period. It would be front page news for days. Here the severed heads story has already disappeared from the national wires, and the execution of 12 officers has received half a dozen brief paragraphs so far.
It's not that people don't care. It's just that it's all so routine. Another day in Mexico.
And some actually say, let's hold peace talks with the drug traffickers and cartels . . .
Mar. 19 - Authorities reported this evening that two of the 10 heads belonged to police officers. They also now believe that the crimes may have been connected, contrary to what was originally reported.
Mar. 21 - Five of the severed heads have been identified as local police. Counting the 12 officers shot to death Monday, at least 17 police officers were murdered in one 24 hour period.
Mar. 23 - Acapulco police discovered four severed heads last night in a plastic bag in an abandoned vehicle. The victims have not been identified.
Sept. 24, 2011 - The Daily Obscenities of Mexico
No comments:
Post a Comment