‘Have The Citizens of Juarez and El Paso Finally Had Enough?‘

California Chronicle ^ | Jan. 17, 2009 | Dave Gibson

[AuntB]

Fed up with the crushing violence which has transformed the city of Juarez into a free-fire zone, a group of residents calling themselves the Juárez Citizens Command, has sent out a press release vowing to kill one criminal every day, until order is restored. The CCJ claims to be a group of businessmen, frustrated over the seeming inability of the authorities to curb the spiraling violence in Juarez.

The statement from the CCJ was distributed in Spanish on the internet on Jan. 15. The following is an excerpt from that statement:

“Better the death of a bad person, than that bad person continue contaminating our region.”

“Our mission is to finish each 24 hours with the life of a criminal. The hour has come to stop this disorder in Juárez.“

The CCJ said they would soon release a full manifesto detailing their stated goals.

During 2008, there were more than 1,600 murders in Juarez. In addition to the murders being fueled by an ongoing war between the Juarez and Sinoloa Cartels, thousands of kidnappings occurred in and around Juarez last year. Also, bank robberies and carjackings have now become an everyday occurrence in the city. In short, chaos reigns.

Recently, Mexican President Felipe Calderon ordered an additional 2,000 troops into Juarez to battle the cartels. However, more than 35, 000 federal troops are currently deployed throughout Mexico, battling the cartels, with poor results.

A few days before Christmas, the bodies of eight Mexican soldiers were found about 50 miles from Acapulco. All of the men had been decapitated. Several Mexican newspapers reported the contents of a note beside the severed heads which read: “For every one of ours you kill, we will kill 10 of yours.“

More than 5,600 people were killed in Mexico’s drug violence last year. Many of those murdered were police officers and soldiers.

Since Jan. 1, 2009, there have been more than 40 murders in Juarez. A brief sampling of those murders follows:

Jan. 5…The lifeless body of Jose Ivan Vasquez Lopez, was discovered inside a trash can. Lopez had been beheaded.

Jan. 7…The body of Ricardo Arturo Alvarado Contreras, was found lying in a vacant lot. His hands had been hacked from his arms.

Jan. 6…Prominent attorney Mario Escobedo Salazar, was found shot to death inside his office. The bullet-riddled body of his son Edgar Escobedo Anaya, was found outside the office, police discovered 14 spent shells near the body.

Jan. 13…Guillermo Pizarro Marceleño was shot to death as he sat eating inside El Trebol restaurant.

Jan. 14…A 19-year-old student at the University of Ciudad Juárez, was shot to death with an AK-47, on the side of the road. Jaime Alejandro Irigoyen Flores, had been kidnapped from his home two days earlier.

On Jan. 16, the El Paso Times offered a very interesting opinion poll on their website. The poll asked the question “With violence raging in Juarez, is vigilantism the answer?” What follows are the results of that poll after a total of 2,547 respondents:

“Yes, nothing else has worked, and it’s time for the people to take matters into their own hands.”…59%

“I’m not sure, but at this point, it’s probably worth a try.”…29%

“No, innocent people could get hurt.”…16%

While the results may be a bit shocking to some, it speaks to the fear and frustration that people are feeling with so much violence taking place just on the other side of the border. Many Juarez residents, including a great number of police officers have come to El Paso, seeking refuge from the cartels.

Whether or not the Juárez Citizens Command will actually emerge as an actual force to confront the cartels, remains to be seen. However, the interest shown in their announcement and the positive way in which many already view them, is another sign that the government of Mexico is dangerously close to losing all control of that country.

The drug cartels which now control large portions of Mexico and operate in nearly 200 U.S. cities, represent a clear and present danger to every citizen of both countries. None of us can afford to ignore this issue any longer.

[AuntB]

"On Jan. 16, the El Paso Times offered a very interesting opinion poll on their website. The poll asked the question “With violence raging in Juarez, is vigilantism the answer?” What follows are the results of that poll after a total of 2,547 respondents:

“Yes, nothing else has worked, and it’s time for the people to take matters into their own hands.”…59%"

[Seruzawa]

The direct result of the WOD. I hope the Pharisees are happy.

[AuntB]

“While the results may be a bit shocking to some, it speaks to the fear and frustration that people are feeling with so much violence taking place just on the other side of the border. Many Juarez residents, including a great number of police officers have come to El Paso, seeking refuge from the cartels.”

[Clintons Are White Trash]

What a sad situation - Mexico is an absolute mess. Unfortunately, the leaky borders mean we are inheriting that mess.

[AuntB]

“The direct result of the WOD. I hope the Pharisees are happy.”

AND not securing the borders. I hope LaRaza and McCAin are happy.

[norraad]

Why just one?

[devane617]

well heck! i like the way they think.

[hinckley buzzard]

The drug cartels which now control large portions of Mexico and operate in nearly 200 U.S. cities, represent a clear and present danger to every citizen of both countries. None of us can afford to ignore this issue any longer.

It's about time for President Bush to leave us with a parting reminder to be compassionate and decent to these people and remember that family values don't stop at the Rio Grande.

[gargoyle]

...Bravo...

...a fookin’ war for every occasion...

[mad_as_he$$]

It's is OK. 0 has already started posturing to make Mexico part of the US - then it will all be under control.

[org.whodat]

Action speaks louder than words. It would take more than one a day!!!

[Paladin2]

OMG, not Vigilantes. Along the border no less.

[Paladin2]

Truly W’s fault.

[3AngelaD]

Good start, but what they need is a “Los Pepes” like the one that emerged in Colombia and resulted in the takedown of Pablo Escobar. Of course, the situation in Mexico is a little different, in that there are the several cartels plus the Zetas vying for turf. But the principle would apply.

[Dutch Boy]

If there was no demand there would be no need for a supply. The people using illegal drugs are getting a big dose of the law of unintended consequences. As long as people use illegal drugs there will be ruthless people willing to supply them. The same goes for whiskey, cheese burgers and tobacco. If there wasn’t a market there will be no need to produce the product. The difference is legality of the products but there are people that kill for alcohol, food, tobacco and sneakers too. It’s just pretty rare.

[kabar]

...remember that family values don't stop at the Rio Grande.

It is also important to remember that our sovereignty and border does stop at the Rio Grande.

[101voodoo]

If done properly it will work, and quickly.

The dispatched bad guy needs to be left in the public square so they can be seen in the morning. Do this day after day and you can bet the bad guys, who all know who they are, will leave town pronto. The stress of knowing it is only a matter of time before you are killed is excruciating, especially when it can be relieved by simply getting out of town.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Vigilantism happens when government is unable or unwilling to protect the public from criminals. At first, it seeks to force government to enforce the law, but this seldom works. Then, the government sees the vigilantes as being a greater threat (to it), than the criminals, and so drives the vigilantes underground.

Even then, the emphasis is still on just driving the criminals out. Only when the criminals go on a rampage, do the vigilantes rise up and start butchering the criminals. And this is about the stage Juarez is at right now.

This is very different from many of the criminal lynchings in the American South of the early 20th Century, which often represented angry retaliation against criminals who were under arrest and due to be severely punished, in that it was acts of public revenge and viciousness, rooted more in boredom than justice.

But the bottom line about vigilantism is that vigilantism *works*. It does force government to act against the criminals, and it both drives out criminals and kills other criminals. As such, it is not revolutionary, but acting to sustain order and civility in the face of disorder and crime, in the face of government incompetence and failure.

[DariusBane]

Unfortunately it will turn into leaving long un appropriated scores settled. Business interests, love interests, just plain old fashioned animosity.

Nothing good will come of it, it will be like Iraq.

[tacticalogic]

It worked in Skidmore.