Guadalajara -
Just after midnight, Mexico's Milenio network reported drug war statistics for president Enrique Peña Nieto's first 70 days in office: a total of 2,097 homicides, or an average of about 30 a day.
The network said in January there were 957 narco executions nationwide, down exactly a dozen from December 2012 (Narco violence stats after first month of PRI administration not encouraging: 982 executions, 32 a day).
Ten of the January victims were police officers. Numerous Jalisco police officers were the targets of narco squad and organized crime hits in late December and January (stories below).
On Tuesday, nine Guerrero police officers were killed in a single attack in a community northeast of Acapulco. Gunmen ambush police patrol in war torn Guerrero state, leaving nine officers dead.
During the 2012 presidential campaign, and in the five months between his July 1 victory and his Dec. 1 swearing in, Peña Nieto and his team promised a dramatic reduction in violence during the first 100 days of the incoming PRI administration, including a reduction in drug war executions by up to 50%. That proposal has proven overly optimistic. Thirty days remain in the president's self-imposed window.
Feb. 10 - Mexico issues January drug war stats and death toll
Jan. 7 - Peña Nieto: no option but to follow Calderón strategy
Jan. 26 - Executions soar in Mexico's heart, as new PRI government is half-way in first 100 days
Feb. 1 - HRW's condemnation of Mexican drug war reveals how little it understands conflict
Feb. 6 - Two lynched in Edomex, as Mexicans resort to self-help
Attacks against police
Jan. 30 - All the familiar weapons used in latest assassination of Jalisco police chief
Jan. 8 - More attacks on Jalisco police
Dec. 25 - Death toll in Jalisco-Michoacán violence rises to 28, including 14 police officers
The only possible way for Peña Nieto to archive his goal of drastically reducing the cartel violence within his 100 day deadline would be to form an alliance with either Los Zetas or the Sinaloa cartel and thank god that does not look like that has happened.
ReplyDeleteThink that COULDN'T happen, do you? Read this, then (use your Google translator):
Deletehttp://www.reporteindigo.com/reporte/mexico/la-pax-mafiosa-una-tentacion-para-pena-nieto
One of these days, when I have time, I'll analyze the article for MGRR readers. I've written about the same topic before:
http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2012/10/pena-nietos-colombian-drug-war.html
Edward, I am not sure what to think in this country to be honest. As much as I love Mexico and its people it also surprises me how ingrained corruption is here, how expected it is and how little faith the average mexican has in its leaders. And can you really blame them ?
ReplyDeleteThere has been talk of cartel links between Calderon and of course now Peña Nieto and the PRI. Many thought when NPR brought in that colombian general that his first order of business would be to strike a deal so Mexican cartels could still do their business but swept under the rug like in Colombia. Colombia is still one of the top producers of cocaine but that is done with little violence so "no problem"
So I guess everything is possible but the reason I dont think there is an alliance now is that there are no significant drop in violence or a big shift in where the war between cartels and the government is being fought.
I would imagine an alliance between EPN and a cartel would result in some sort of truce and an agreement that the cartel backs off and so does the army and police in specific areas so at least the violence would drop and there was one less enemy to fight for the army and police.
I'm in no way thinking an alliance is the way to go I'm just speculating here....
I agree with you. There is no alliance. There will be no alliance. The drug war will continue.
DeleteI've said it before, and now I'll say it one more time: The Mexican Drug War is actually America's Drug War Being Fought on Mexican Soil. Until massive U.S. drug demand is checked, until the southward flow of assault rifles and military arms is stopped, until the staggering sum of southbound dollars is stopped, the drug war will not end. Felipe Calderon was so, so accurate when he said, "Living in Mexico is like living next door to the biggest drug addict in town."
At least 75% of the problem is north of the border. Everybody so acknowledges: the U.N., and private security consultants like the highly respected U.S. firm Stratfor (http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2013/01/pena-nieto-no-option-but-to-follow.html).
Imagine how Mexico feels when states like Colorado and Washington arrogantly announce that they are going to disregard and disobey FEDERAL law, and "legalize" the private consumption and purchase of marijuana. What did Barack Obama say about that last November, right after he was re-elected? "I've got other fish to fry right now, I can't worry about those things." But at the same time, he demands that his drug partner to the south worry about them. Utter hypocrisy.
I forgot to mention this - Obama's own words:
Deletehttp://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2011/12/obama-us-drug-demand-responsible-for.html
And Canadians are responsible, too. There are plenty of drug traffickers from up north doing business down here. See the video clip at the bottom of this article:
http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2012/10/puerto-vallarta-police-chief-survives.html
And what about these blatant law-breakers? http://www.mexicogulfreporter.com/2013/01/two-canadian-gunmen-arrested-in-playa.html
EPN should do what is best for Mexico. Of course exactly what that is depends on your point of view. If what is best for Mexico is not best for the USA, oh well... After all it is their consumption that causes at least 75% of the problem. Let them deal with it at their end by stopping the consumption, legalizing (as I addressed at length in another comment elsewhere) or fighting a war on their own territory.
ReplyDelete