Posted on 07/15/2008 4:50:53 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Recent attacks are a troubling sign innocents aren't off-limits
MEXICO CITY — Many Mexicans have long shrugged off the violence shaking their country by telling themselves it only affects those involved in the narcotics trade and corrupt law enforcement officers.
But innocent civilians, once considered largely off-limits, now find themselves increasingly targeted.
In the past five days, two attacks in the Pacific Coast state of Sinaloa claimed the lives of perhaps more than a dozen people with no apparent connection to the drug trade — including at least four teens, a 12-year-old girl and a father-and-son team of university accounting professors.
In a separate incident, dozens of people were taken hostage Saturday at a restaurant in Mazatlan, Sinaloa's premiere beach resort and seaport. The assassins killed an officer and fled the mall in a van with 10 of the hostages, later freeing them unharmed and making their escape.
"That they are killing civilians speaks to the monster that has been created," said Yudit del Rincon Castro, an outspoken Sinaloa state legislator from Guamuchil. "They used to respect women, children, innocents. Now when they go after someone they don't care who they hit along with them."
Some 550 people have been killed in Sinaloa, a state with 2.5 million people, since the beginning of the year, according to the newspaper Noroeste in Culiacan, the state capital.
The Sunday massacre occurred about 1 a.m. when gunmen opened fire on mostly young people traveling in four cars down the main street in Guamuchil, a farm town about 40 miles north of Culiacan. In a storm of bullets — police recovered some 300 spent cartridges at the scene — eight people were killed and five others gravely injured.
The fatalities included three adults, four teenagers and a 12-year-old girl.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
My wife, 2 kids and me made a point to avoid the Western Caribbean route on a 7 day cruise we are taking in 2 weeks.
With the murders, kidnappings, etc., getting out of control we decided to go the eastern route. Bahamas, Vigin Islands, St, Croix, St.Martin, St. Thomas etc. Should be more kid friendly as well.
Yes, good plans. And stay away from Jamacia, from what I have read there. I always wanted to go to Jamacia, and since I like to travel off the beaten path, well my desire to go there has changed.
Also, if you can, visit an area called the Baths...great snorkeling tour with underwater plaques explaining the formations and sea-life.
I’ve been to Jamaica several times and went off the beaten’ path every time. It was 20 years ago though. The rastas were very friendly, if you get my drift. The Red Stripes and jerk chicken were great also. They do get pretty aggressive trying to sell you drugs of all kinds. Overall I had a great time.
Thanks for the info. I’ll keep an eye out for it.
Well 20 years ago would have been the time to go to Jamacia. Nowadays is not the time to go. I missed out.
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
My brother went about 2 years ago and said it was great. He stayed at a high end resort. Something like Sandals or its equivalent, nice golf course and fishing charters etc. He never really wandered outside the resort area. It was an all inclusive trip. Food, drinks, etc.
Yes I heard that is really the only way to go to Jamacia nowadays, to stay at a resort and not to wander out. But I always like to see the off-beaten path wherever I go, to see how people really live, to experience what the locals experience, and to see the natural beauty of a place.
It really is beautiful there. I toured the McCormack spice estate, climbed the Dunn River Falls etc. Walked the streets of Kingston. (not safe now)
Coming to America is the Open Borders crew has its way.
A buddy of mine went to Jamaica about three years ago. He witnessed someone getting arrested for buying drugs. He asked a nearby cop why they let the seller walk and he told him they have no money but the tourist buyers do.
What's the point of traveling to a luxury prison?
I was just listening to ABC radio news. There’s been a kidnapped American in Iran. They were outraged!
In 2006 there were over 50 Americans kidnapped in Mexico. And on Glenn Beck, I just heard Congress won’t approve funds for border Sheriff’s, but they sure sent that 1.5 billion to Mexico without a pause.
The cops and the dealers work as partners to fleece the buyers. The cruise line warned us of this when we get off the ship.
A Texas congressman Reyes had a relative kidnapped a few weeks ago and actually paid the ransom to get her back. He still supports open borders and amnesty. Yes, he’s a liberal democrat. Didn’t even make headlines on TV network news.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/27/us-helps-ransom-reyes-kin/
That’s right. You would think that would have been all over the news. Well, they tell us what they want us to know, don’t they?
I guess Jorge wouldn’t want to hurt the Mexican tourism industry.
Have to agree, our cruise ship stopped in ocho rios (1996) and a cabbie practically kidnapped me and our family. He drove us around the island and ignored our requested destination then drove into the slums where a roadblock was set up.
My life flashed before my eyes at this but the driver was only fooling us and made a sign and the cars ahead of us dispersed. He then took us back to the cruise ship so we had an adventure. It was not the kind of thing I would do again.
I spent a lot of time in Mexico in my youth.
I would not go back there now for any reason.
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