Border traffic along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border came to a standstill yesterday due to a series of protests.An estimated 300 protectors marched in the northern city of Monterrey against alleged abuses committed by the Mexican army in its war against drug gang violence. Some protestors chanted "Stop abuse by the PFP [Federal Preventative Police]!" and impeded border traffic in checkpoints between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso as well as Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa. One protest even took place in the Gulf state of Veracruz where roads were blocked.
The governor of Nuevo Leon state blamed drug gangs for organizing the protests though that claim has yet to be corroborated:
It was the largest display of discontent against the army's role in an anti-drug crackdown since President Felipe Calderon began deploying soldiers across the country two years ago to fight cartels. About 45,000 soldiers are now spread out across Mexico.Image- AP (“Police use a water cannon to disperse protesters in the northern industrial city of Monterrey, Mexico, Tuesday Feb. 17, 2009.”)
Government and army officials claimed that drug cartels organized similar protests in Monterrey earlier this month to undermine the crackdown. Federal officials had no immediate comment on Tuesday's protests.
Human rights activists say there are legitimate complaints about abuses by soldiers, including cases in which patrols opened fire on civilians at military checkpoints. But they say it is unclear who has been behind the demonstrations.
Online Sources- AP, BBC News, Reuters, Al Jazeera English
The Mexican drug problem won't go away with military force. Even if the army is successful at dethroning the current drug cartels another cartel will rise soon after. The ultimate cause is America's hunger for drugs so until that problem is addressed a drug free/violence free border is not possible. What you must ask is whether or not the people of Mexico are safer with or without the military. Judging from the alarming spike in murders over the past few months, including the collateral deaths of many law abiding citizens, I would argue Mexican citizens are safer without the military.
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