Ciudad Juárez is not the only city along the Texas border where the alarms are ringing. Classes were canceled in most of Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa's schools last Monday and Tuesday after rumors spread thoroughly that a criminal organization was planning to kidnap students from public and private schools.
Today, the U.S Consulate in Reynosa announced that it will be closed for the following days due to the increasing violence in the city. According to press reports, consul Michael Barking is alerting U.S. citizens not to cross the border.
On Tuesday, there were also reports of 19 people killed in different confrontations between members of the cartels and the federal police in Tamaulipas.
In Ciudad Mier –near the Rio Grande river-, an armed squad attacked the municipal government building and took at least 10 municipal police officers as hostages. The attackers used at least 20 pick-ups marked with the acronym “CDG” for Cártel del Golfo.
A report from the newspaper “El Mañana” states that violence in these border towns is turning Texan tourists away. The bars, restaurants and stores are feeling the pinch, exactly the same way that in Cd. Juárez.
On Feb 20, a big sign was shown in the streets of Reynosa saying “Reynosa is a safe city. Nothing happens. Nothing won’t happen. Continue your regular life. We are part of Tamaulipas and we don’t attack citizens. Signature: CDF. Cártel del Golfo”.
The war between the Cártel del Golfo and the Zetas in Tamaulipas is getting hotter, and as it has happened in Cd. Juarez, the citizens have been caught in the middle. Tamaulipas Governor Eugenio Hernandez Flores is requiring more federal troops to face the emergency.
Yes, the alarms are ringing loud all along the border of Texas, just as they have been ringing in Cd. Juarez for a long time.
in your view... is mexico in a civil war or is this a terribly extended ajuste de cuentas between cartels???????????????/
Posted by: jhilton | 02/26/2010 at 06:50 AM
Neither Washington DC nor Mexico DF have ever understood their border zone. The whole stretch of the Rio Grande from the Gulf to Juarez/El Paso has historically been ignored by both national capitals until something unattractive happened, then it got on the radar & they had to act like they were concerned for awhile. I say this as a native Anglo-Texan, perhaps our best chance was nearly 200 years ago with the Rio Grande Republic, or some similar semi-autonomous trade zone in the future if we ever get the chance again in or outside NAFTA. The region is unique, it is kind of like the Alsace-Lorraine between France and Germany, has belonged to both at different times but in the process developed its own distinct culture. And always caught in the middle of wars, be they military or narcotics.
Posted by: M. Faubion | 03/16/2010 at 12:42 PM
very informational... educative as well,am still looking up to more of your blogs... good job!
Posted by: Acai Optimum | 03/29/2010 at 11:41 AM