Baja Bernie - 4-24-2009 at 09:38 AM
Thought this might be of interest to some of you...
April 22, 2009
Security News
The "Blue Flu" Strikes a Border Town
Disaffected members of the Piedras Negras police force in the Mexican
border state of Coahuila returned to work Wednesday, April 22, after
staging an overnight work stoppage. Some 50 officers assigned to the
graveyard shift conducted the protest to express opposition to the new
policies of a retired Mexican colonel, Arturo Navarro Lopez, who assumed
command of the police department two weeks ago.
Dissident officers refused to work in protest of humiliating and abusive
policies imposed by the new police chief, according to news accounts.
Family members of some officers also supported the protest; an
unidentified relative of a police officer complained to a local newspaper
prior to the protest about a beating allegedly inflicted by Mexican
soldiers.
As a result of the brief police strike, Piedras Negras was left without
regular law enforcement coverage the evening of April 21 and the early
morning of April 22. Army and state police patrols filled the void left by
disenchanted municipal officers.
One version of the dispute reported that officers were afraid they were
going to be fired because of weight issues or positive results of pending
drug test results. Details of the conflict, however, remained sketchy.
The border "blue flu" provoked reactions from government officials and
everyday citizens. After the work stoppage ended, Piedras Negras Mayor
Raul Vela pledged to consider the officers' demands. Coahuila Governor
Humberto Moreira condemned the strike as the wrong way to express
grievances, adding the officers were giving a bad example to the
citizenry.
The web site of a local news publication also drew several comments, most
in opposition to the police action. Calling the police "corrupt," a writer
identified as Hector congratulated Piedras Negras' new police chief for
"putting (police) to work." A writer identified as Aracely agreed the
action was incorrect, but said it should be assumed good police exist as
well as bad ones and the strikers "should be listened to" and their
demands examined.
The sister city of Eagle Pass, Texas, Piedras Negras is located in an
historic coal-producing region that later attracted export assembly plants
known as maquiladoras. In recent years, Piedras Negras has been the scene
of narco-violence allegedly involving members of the Zetas crime
organization. Piedras Negras is among a growing number of Mexican
municipalities that are turning responsibility for civilian law
enforcement over to men with military backgrounds.
Sources: El Universal, April 21 and 22, 2009. Articles by Hilda Fernandez
Valverde. Zocalo.com.mx, April 22, 2009. Article by Valentin Valdes.
Frontera NorteSur (FNS): on-line, U.S.-Mexico border news
Center for Latin American and Border Studies
New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico
GETTIN' MARRIED TO MY BAJA GAL, JAIME.........IN NINE DAYS...WOW!
[Edited on 4-24-2009 by Baja Bernie]
drug testing
nancyinpdx - 4-24-2009 at 01:53 PM
I think ALL of Baja's cops should occasionally be given random drug testing. If Mexico can somehow afford it, I think they should have to all have
backround checks too.
David K - 4-24-2009 at 05:51 PM
Very nice Bernie, very nice... congratulations! I read Diver's post before yours... This kind of news should be in its own thread, at the top!