SUNDOG - 10-4-2006 at 12:19 PM
300-mile march to Mexicali to protest violence
Trek to start from San Quintin Valley
By Anna Cearley
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 4, 2006
TIJUANA – A 16-day march through Baja California's farm valleys to the state capital is being planned to bring attention to the region's crime
problem.
A state advisory committee that includes businesspeople and residents is organizing the march, scheduled to start Oct. 21 from the San Quintin Valley.
Participants will head north to Tijuana and then east to Mexicali, covering about 300 miles by Nov. 5.
“A simple march isn't going to solve the problem, but it's more deplorable to stay silent,” said Jesús Alberto Capella Ibarra, president of the
advisory committee Consejo Ciudadano de Seguridad Publica del Estado.
Organizers of the event said the march is unprecedented. It comes on the heels of a particularly violent month: In September, six police officers or
investigators were killed, and large numbers of bodies were dumped in Tijuana.
The violence caused the city administration to propose that the Mexican army take a more active role here. It also prompted sniping among federal,
state and municipal authorities about who is to blame for failing to quell the crime surge.
The underlying reason behind the violence, many here believe, is a shake-up in drug-trafficking circles following the August arrest by U.S.
authorities of suspected kingpin Francisco Javier Arellano Félix.
Business groups and citizens organizations such as the Consejo are pressuring government agencies to work more closely to stem the violence.
Yesterday, the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial de Tijuana – an umbrella association of business groups – said it would continue boycotting events held
by the government until it sees a notable change in security measures.
Members of the Consejo Ciudadano said that local committees will be in charge of activities for each section of the march, such as memorial services
for the dead, and that details on how to get involved will be provided through advertisements being paid for by businesses.
The Consejo Ciudadano is composed of eight citizen members who are either elected by local committees or appointed by the governor. Their role is to
evaluate public security measures by meeting periodically with a panel of local and state government representatives.
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Anna Cearley: (619) 542-4595; anna.cearley@uniontrib.com
pargo - 10-4-2006 at 01:51 PM
If successful, hopefully this march will bring to light the need to address the spike in violence aimed at the baja travellers on the transpeninsular
as well.
Skeet/Loreto - 10-5-2006 at 04:33 AM
May I say "I Told you So" ??
In previous Posts, I have related to the Power of the People to do something about a Given Situtation- Closing of the Road at Loreto- 2 Times- Once
for Water-Once to bring the Bell back to Loreto- Housing for the Workers at Manadero.
It will be a Pleasure to see the Results of this March!!
Skeet/Loreto
300-mile march to Mexicali to protest violence
BajaNews - 10-5-2006 at 12:49 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/tijuana/20061004-9...
Trek to start from San Quintin Valley
[Edited on 10-6-2006 by BajaNomad]