I am currently studying in Monterrey for a one year exchange (Monterrey is the third biggest city in the country, 2 h from Texan border, supposedly the safest city in the country). Just before I arrived here in August the biggest news coming out of Mexico was the swine flu scare, but that has since been replaced by concerns about the violence relating to drugs. I can safely say I am no expert on the goings on of that conflict, and there seem to be a lack of official information from media outlets about what is happening around the country. Anyway, there has been recent developments, say the beginning of this year, that has added an extra dimension to the conflict. From what I have gathered so far from friends living here (and hopefully any Mexican TLers can give their input as well) this the general situation:
- The Mexican government has actively combating the drug cartels over a three year period, including stationing 80.000 soldiers around the country. You frequently see pick up trucks full of masked and heavily armed soldiers on the highways here in Monterrey
- In the beginning of January of this year some 15 or 16 people were killed at a party in Ciudad Juarez by members of a 'mercenary army' called Los Zetas. The wiki page states that they are considered by the DEA to be the most heavily armed and advanced criminal organization in Mexico.
- This act has prompted the Cartel Del Golfo, La Familia Michoacana and the Cartel Sinaloa, the most powerful cartel in the country, to gang up to exterminate the Zetas. They believe that the acts of the Zetas, being more prone to violence against non-drug traffickers (or 'citizens', as Omar in The Wire would put it) is what has made the government crack down on the drug trade in they way that they have.
- The troubles are the worst in the border states of Chihuahua and Tamaulipas, in cities like Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa. However, hardly any news aside from Twitter sources are available. The violence is both between army and cartels, and different cartels fighting each other.
- This morning there was a shoot out on the big highway right outside my university campus at around 1am, between members of the Zetas and Mexican army soldiers. Two 'assassins' made their way inside the campus before being gunned down right by the gym. There were cleaning crews there this morning taking away the blood.
Just thought I would share that with you. There is a general lack of information over here, but I just thought I'd ask your opinions on the matter. Is the general media black out in Mexico (at least, that is how I perceive it) a deliberate attempt at calming the population, or just to evade showing the failures of government measures to curb cartel influence in the country? Woah, this turned out to be a long one.
My dad works in Monterrey, and I live at the border that is 2 hours away from there. It is obviously very troubling when you have to look out for drive by's all the time T_T
just saturday 3 americans were killed in ciudad juarez that were linked to the american consulate. seems like heavy heavy shit is going down in mexico . Really scary two assassins make it into your school, try to be safe!
I've lived in El Paso, Texas for 4 years, 15 mins from Ciudad, Juarez Mexico. It's been like this forever even before I moved down here. It'll never change, Mexico is run by cartels and drug lords, and the government has no control on it. The government is too terrible down there to deal with it.
ohh man >_< Mexico is so fucked up because of drugs They should just legalize this shit and if people still want to do it. let them. save some good lives that way.
Some guy took a video from his apartment of the whole episode. You dont see anything, you can just hear the gun exchange in the distance. Dunno, kinda weird that I just walked by there 15 mins ago.
@ aycheff You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. Ever since President Felipe Calderon took office in Mexico he declared war on the drug cartels (which put his life in direct danger). The main reason drug cartels are getting so violent NOW is because the war on drugs in Mexico IS working. The cartels are losing money and consequentially they're starting to lose their cool. With ongoing support from the U.S. and continued determination from President Calderon I don't see the cartels surviving much longer. I can't drive my car through Mexico anymore without having to stop at two military checkpoints per 100 miles and trust me they're are ridiculously thorough.
I guess declaring de facto martial law in various parts of the country can be a valid strategy for fighting a war of attrition with the cartels. In the end, victory or defeat depends on whether the manpower of the cartel runs out first or whether public tolerance of martial law and constant gun battles runs out first. The Mexican president is playing a dangerous game. Public support for the drug cartels seems stronger than the federales in some areas.
First of all Monterrey is not the safest city in the country, what moron told you that? its in the North of mexico that is plagued with cartels.
As rule of the thumb the more south of mexico you are, the safest the place is (with the exeption of Mexico city that is unsafe but not because of drug dealers).
So let me open your eyes here, anyone who believes the government is in a real war against the cartels is a naive child with no idea of what he is talking about.
The government created and control the cartels, the Gulf cartel was created and supported by the PRI (party that reigned for 70 years) and when the PAN took over they started the Pacific cartel to balance the forces.
At least 5 governors cannot step on american soil because they are being charged with drug traffic charges.
The army is absolutely useless, the generals are bough by the cartels and they stage some shows for you to make you believe in this illusion of war.
The only way to stop this is to legalize drugs, but we all know that will never ever happen because it is not in the interest of the government our lives or well being but their own benefit and they profit quite a lot from drugs.
Only a retard would agree that these constant massacres are a sacrifice that justifies the control of the government over what substances we put in our god damn body.
On March 25 2010 12:21 TanGeng wrote: I guess declaring de facto martial law in various parts of the country can be a valid strategy for fighting a war of attrition with the cartels. In the end, victory or defeat depends on whether the manpower of the cartel runs out first or whether public tolerance of martial law and constant gun battles runs out first. The Mexican president is playing a dangerous game. Public support for the drug cartels seems stronger than the federales in some areas.
lol you speak as "the federales" as if they were the good guys, i dont know a single person who feels safe in the presence of a police man.
In matter of fact, its a very scary and threatening experience to ever bump with the police in any situation.
You just simply cannot imagine how a corrupt country works, the police are the guys who kidnap and torture people, they are thieves and murderers
Everbody knows that if you want somebody killed you have to approach the federal police with money and they will do it
Everbody knows that if you want somebody killed you have to approach the federal police with money and they will do it
In fact, with enogh money you can do whatever you want in Mexico.
Don't step in Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana and almost any city close to the frontier. Mexico city its only safe on vacation because even the thieves, drug dealers and the rest of the gang spend their time in Acapulco. Guadalajara city ins't so fucked up as well as some parts of Monterrey.
Cabo San Lucas and Cancún still are great places to be, and don't go close to the south frontier because of the 'maras' ( another dangerous gang)
On March 25 2010 15:18 baal wrote: when the PAN took over they started the Pacific cartel to balance the forces.
The army is absolutely useless, the generals are bough by the cartels and they stage some shows for you to make you believe in this illusion of war. Only a retard would agree that these constant massacres are a sacrifice that justifies the control of the government over what substances we put in our god damn body.
Some of them may be bought off but that hardly generalizes. Source for your full claim please.
Hopefully things will improve but apparently they are not, what with killings at all time high
edit: Holy shit:
Mexican cartels control large swaths of Mexican territory and dozens of municipalities, and they exercise increasing influence in Mexican electoral politics. The cartels are waging violent turf battle over control of key smuggling corridors from Nuevo Laredo, to San Diego. Mexican cartels employ hitmen and groups of enforcers, known as sicarios. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reports that the Mexican drug cartels operating today along the border are far more sophisticated and dangerous than any other organized criminal group in U.S. law enforcement history. The cartels use grenade launchers, automatic weapons, body armor and sometimes, Kevlar helmets.
On March 25 2010 15:18 baal wrote: when the PAN took over they started the Pacific cartel to balance the forces.
The army is absolutely useless, the generals are bough by the cartels and they stage some shows for you to make you believe in this illusion of war. Only a retard would agree that these constant massacres are a sacrifice that justifies the control of the government over what substances we put in our god damn body.
Some of them may be bought off but that hardly generalizes. Source for your full claim please.
wait.. did you just ask me for sources about generals being corrupt and being bough by the cartel? ROFL... while im at it, i think ill find you some sources of the JFK murder....
You are just too naive to get how things work in a country like mine, let me give you a few examples that will give you an idea how things are here.
The governor (Mario Marin) of my city, which is the 4rth biggest in Mexico (over 3 mill habitants) was recorded having a conversation with a known pedophile millionare about sending to jail a journalist who was writing a book about this pedophile, the governor clearly says that he will take care of it.
This recording aired in every newschannel in México, the president made a speech and swore that he would send him to jail.... well he not only did not go to jail, he is still governor and guess what, the same party will be re-elected very soon.
Its kind of annoying when a scandinavian tries to debate with a Mexican how corrupt our country is so here it is, you simply have no fucking idea, not the slightest clue and its much worse than you think.
The violence however its exagerated because there is no better manipulation tool than fear.
PS: i said scandinavian only to illustrate the point of a person who lives in a semi-utopic society "sheltered" from crap like this.
EPT
. Really scary two assassins make it into your school, try to be safe!
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