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Woooosh
Banned
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Location: Rosarito Beach
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Vigilantes on rise in Mexico
Looks like the people are beginning to step-up and fill the security gap... er... chasm. "that is a big step toward anarchy -- with potentially
hair-raising consequences for San Diego, Yuma, Nogales and other U.S. cities near the border"
From Today's UT opionions pages...
"While no one can justify the trampling of citizens' rights, what the erstwhile cabinet member and his like-minded confreres forget is that in the
absence of a reliable, clean, professional civilian police there is something much worse than mobilizing soldiers, sailors and marines against
wrongdoers -- namely, the rise of vigilantism.
Criticism is surging against the heavy reliance on the armed forces to combat the Tijuana Cartel and other venal Mexican drug organizations. The
assignment of the military to undertake law-enforcement duties has sparked charges of human rights violations even as citizen self-defense groups are
springing to life.
Former Foreign Secretary Jorge Castañeda, a board member of Human Rights Watch, has urged the U.S. State Department to withhold 15 percent of Mérida
Initiative funding in light of mistreatment. In a letter to The Washington Post in August, he argued that: "Human rights abuses are a major obstacle
to Mexico's efforts to strengthen public security and contain drug-related violence. By abusing civilians, Mexican soldiers have contributed to the
climate of lawlessness and violence in which drug cartels have thrived. These abuses also deter the public cooperation essential to curbing
trafficking."
While no one can justify the trampling of citizens' rights, what the erstwhile cabinet member and his like-minded confreres forget is that in the
absence of a reliable, clean, professional civilian police there is something much worse than mobilizing soldiers, sailors and marines against
wrongdoers -- namely, the rise of vigilantism.
Of course, egregious abuses have occurred. On June 1, 2007, soldiers at a checkpoint in the Sierra Mountains of Sinaloa fired more than a dozen rounds
into an automobile, killing three children and two unarmed women. In the aftermath of the bloodbath, the Defense Ministry, which has established a
human rights' office, arrested three officers and 16 soldiers. Still, on March 26, 2008, soldiers killed five more Grayson is the Class of 1938
Professor of Government at the College of William & Mary and a senior associate at the Center for Strategic & International Studies. His next
book, "Mexico: Narco-Violence and a Failed State?" will be published this month. civilians whose car failed to stop at a guard post in Badiraguato,
Sinaloa.
Castañeda and his confreres seek to have allegations of human rights abuses heard by civilian courts.
They argued that of the 500 suspected human rights violations presented to the Army between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2008, only 174
investigations were initiated, just eleven suspects were apprehended and no sentences were handed down. Military tribunals hear most criminal cases
against soldiers and they often treat them as disciplinary matters rather than crimes.
No one would be happier than President Felipe Calderón if he could transfer pursuit of criminal syndicates from the army and navy to civilian police.
Yet despite the down mafiosi in Ciudad Juárez. At least two other vigilante-style bands have dispatched statements to the media: one in the northern
state of Sonora, the other in the Pacific state of Guerrero.
The execution of Benjamin Le Baron, an anti-cartel activist in Galeana, Chihuahua, prompted his law-abiding Mormon community to move toward taking up
arms and forming its own self-defense force.
Cabbies in Mexico City's sprawling Magdalena Contreras borough have suffered multiple assaults and robberies at the hands of thugs believed to be
protected by the police.
When local authorities failed to nab the culprits, the taxistas acted. They seized the presumed leader of the assailants, "El Perro," and bludgeoned
mid-year reorganization of the federal police, Mexico lacks a credible, effective law-enforcement capability.
In the absence of trustworthy cops, citizens are taking the law into their own hands. The self-styled Juárez Citizen Command (CCJ) has sprung to life
in the violenceplagued city across from El Paso. In an e-mail to the media, this shadowy band claimed to be funded by local businessmen outraged by
kidnappings, murder, and extortion in the sprawling metropolis of 1.4 million people. The CCJ may have been responsible for the killing six men in
their 20s and 30s in October 2008; a sign left behind read: "Message for all the rats. This will continue."
Reuters news service reported that another group, "Businessmen United, The Death Squad," aired a YouTube video threatening to hunt him to death.
On August 14, two leaders of the informal "Taxi Drivers' Pact," were arrested with El Perro's cadaver in the back seat of their Ford Aerostar. The
outcome of their case is pending.
Thus far only a dozen or so vigilante organizations have emerged. However, Defense Secretary Guillermo Galván must make good on his pledge to
accentuate the importance of human rights to the armed forces. Meanwhile, critics of the military must remember that removing troops from the streets
-- in the absence of competent police -- will lead more crime victims to take the law into their own hands.
And that is a big step toward anarchy -- with potentially hair-raising consequences for San Diego, Yuma, Nogales and other U.S. cities near the
border. "
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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Mexicorn
Senior Nomad
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Nice post from the San Diego minute men-
Those guys are such haters of anything to do with mexico.
Say hi to the Schwilkster for me
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Bajahowodd
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Bajahowodd
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Be careful what you wish for. Vigilantism is a sign of breakdown in the civil order that cannot bode well for the health of the republic.
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Barry A.
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Mood: optimistic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Be careful what you wish for. Vigilantism is a sign of breakdown in the civil order that cannot bode well for the health of the republic.
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I did not realize that there was any doubt about the "------breakdown in the civil order------". This situation, it seems to me, is a logical
response to the failure of the authorities to control and protect, and totally predictable. If the civilians had failed to do anything, then I would
have been very disapponted and disgusted.
Until some measure of control of the situation is obtained, I think that normal "human rights" are suspended. It can't go on the way it has been.
Barry
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Bajahowodd
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All well and good if the so-called vigilantes reflect your own values and issues. But what happens when they don't?
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Barry A.
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Location: Redding, Northern CA
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There are always unintended consequences of most bold actions-------the way things are now vigilantes may be the least of all the evil choices
available, and they can be effective-----------Mexico can sort out stuff when the cartels are rendered effectively weak and in disarray.
Corruption, which is the "real problem", is a different matter, but it will only be contained when the people take it upon themselves to rid
themselves of it [easy to say, hard (impossible??) to accomplish, I admit]
Barry
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
The Minutemen disgust me but all I can do is hope they disappear or go too far and get thrown in jail. |
Why do they disgust you? You didn't say.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
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I love Dirty Harry movies.
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David K
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Why do some of you have no problem with guns in the hands of criminals or corrupt government officials... BUT have a cow with ANY posts about guns in
the hands of honest citizens who want their country back?
The Minutemen wouldn't be along the border if:
A) people didn't violate our law and cross illegally into the U.S. or
B) the Border Patrol was able to do their jobs and secure the border.
People who want to live in peace and without fear of attack have the right and duty to protect their families and property with any means to repell
aggression... in Mexico, America, anywhere.
Focus your hate and anger at the LAW BREAKERS... If the law was obeyed, vigilantes in Mexico or Minutemen in America could go back home and enjoy
life!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Focus your hate and anger at the LAW BREAKERS... If the law was obeyed, vigilantes in Mexico or Minutemen in America could go back home and enjoy
life! |
Jeeeezo David...I agree with what you say, in a way but, we shouln't have hate and anger for anything. That ruins understanding.
We have to have a better frame of mind to enforce our laws. Minutemen included.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
Vigilantes in my book. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, etc.
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What's wrong with vigilantes if those entrusted to do the job that needs to be done won't do it?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
Xenophobes. |
That is such pathetic nonsense. Shame on you for saying that.
Is it xenophobic to think that we have a border worth protecting?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
The border patrol has been hiring for years. The should apply for jobs if they want to help. |
Help them do what? The same nothing they've been doing forever?
What a waste of manpower and worse, public condidance that they may be doing something towards their mission.
What a ***ing joke they are, made worse that they accept really good pay for doing nothing toward an end. They just keep doing nothing and thay just
keep getting paid for their good efforts.
Wake up. It's your money being spent for nothing.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
"Preservation of a long-established American heritage, culture, and language to facilitate commerce and communication, and provide a common bond among
the population." |
I have no idea what this garbage means.
I do know that if anybody, regardless of of how red-neck they seem to be, makes an effort to protect the perimiter of the country, in spite of the US
government choice to view that endeavor as irrelevant, is more patriot than the president who ignores them.
Argue that, if you will.
Our country...Our border. Why would you or any other US patriot try to find fault with this?
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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...........wire Paladin, San Francisco...........
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Paladin
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Paladin retired to Fresno
Trying to sell some of his guns to pay for a trailer in San Bruno.
He already has his ARCA Panga
Social Security starts next year.
Warn the fish
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woody with a view
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Paladin
Paladin retired to Fresno
Trying to sell some of his guns to pay for a trailer in San Bruno.
He already has his ARCA Panga
Social Security starts next year.
Warn the fish |
they've been warned!!!!!
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Mexicorn
Senior Nomad
Posts: 772
Registered: 9-15-2009
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Say hello yo Lil dog of the Campo minute men. Hey Lil dog your parole Officer know your wearing a gun up there?
Futherermore does anybody know the name of that Big Hollywood movie studio that allowing those racists to squatt on the land?
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Paladin
Paladin retired to Fresno
Trying to sell some of his guns to pay for a trailer in San Bruno.
He already has his ARCA Panga
Social Security starts next year.
Warn the fish |
No, I mean the REAL Paladin........the hired gun who cleans up other people's problems........
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