MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A majority of Mexicans believe violent drug gangs are winning a war with President Felipe Calderon's government after one of
the worst months on record for killings, Reforma newspaper reported on Sunday.
According to a poll by the newspaper, 53 percent of Mexicans think that drug traffickers hold the upper hand against government forces which are
trying to clamp down on cartels that ship drugs to the United States.
Only 24 percent said they believed the government was winning the battle. The remaining 23 percent gave no opinion.
May was one of the most violent months on record for drug killings, both between gangs and targeting federal forces. Calderon has sent thousands of
troops onto the streets in a bid to stop cartels from operating.
Close to 500 people were slain in May -- including a wave against police chiefs -- the highest number of killings since Calderon took office in
December 2006, according to a tally kept by Milenio newspaper.
Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora said last month that 4,152 drug-related killings have been registered in Calderon's administration, 450 of them
police, military or government officials.
Calderon, however, kept up his approval rating in the Reforma poll. Some 64 percent approved his work as president, up from 63 percent in March. A
year ago his rating was 65 percent.
The poll was carried out among 1,515 people nationwide on May 23-25 and had a margin or error of plus or minus 2.5 percent, Reforma said.Eugenio - 6-2-2008 at 09:53 AM
The results of this poll agree with sentiments of my personal contacts in Northern Sinaloa and Southern Sonora. In fact some of my friends that have
businesses related to agriculture are thinking of closing shop. It can be very dangerous out in the fields.pargo - 6-2-2008 at 01:31 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Eugenio In fact some of my friends that have businesses related to agriculture are thinking of closing shop.
close shop? why?..maybe they should switch to a more lucrative "crop"
Capt. George - 6-3-2008 at 05:06 AM
or open drive by funeral home...Iflyfish - 6-3-2008 at 09:21 AM
The number of dead is close to what has been experienced in the USofA over the past five years in Iraq. I wonder how many innocent bystanders have
been injured? Serious matter. Good to hear Mexican public behind the government, that goes away and look out!
IflyfishEugenio - 6-3-2008 at 10:20 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Eugenio In fact some of my friends that have businesses related to agriculture are thinking of closing shop.
close shop? why?..maybe they should switch to a more lucrative "crop"
Pargo - that was my point - they're too close to the "growers" - inadvertently offend the wrong person and you might wind up #501 for May. I imagine
there are many more killings that don't get reported - people are scared - and the desert is huge.
