JUAREZ CANCELS SEPT. 16 CELEBRATION

For the first time since the Mexican Revolution, Juarez city
government has canceled the festivities of one of Mexico's most
patriotic holidays.

"First comes the safety of the population," said Juarez Mayor Jose
Reyes Ferriz. "Because of threats, because of criminal activities that
exist in Juarez, we don't want to take any risks."

On the eve of Sept. 16, mayors in Mexico lead crowds at city hall
esplanades in the traditional ceremony of grito de independencia, or
call to independence.

!Viva Mexico! were the words shouted the same day by Father Miguel
Hidalgo y Costilla in 1810, when he launched the rebellion against the
Spanish crown.

The Independence party is a deep-rooted tradition in every Mexican
town and city.

It is mostly attended by Mexico's working class. It was the same class
who witnessed the first cry for independence in 1810, when Hidalgo
began the 11-year war to overthrow the Spaniards and put an end to
Indian slavery.

The Mexican Independence Day is, along with the Mexican Revolution, a
symbol of cultural identity.

Juarez has observed the patriotic holiday even before it gained its
name in 1888.

To celebrate the Mexican Independence, thousands of Juarez residents
flocked every year to city hall to attend the night festival.
Mariachis, folk dancers and singers performed on the evenings of Sept.
15.

But a turf war between the rival Sinaloa and Juarez drug cartels has
transformed Juarez into the murder capital of North America. Nearly
2,000 people have been murdered this year. Since 2008, about 6,200
have been killed.

Scenes of carnage, extortions and kidnappings are common in Juarez.
Early Sunday, Chihuahua state police found the unidentified bodies of
four men and one woman who were shot dead while they were traveling in
west Juarez.

Just like these past years, Juarez underwent rocky times in 1911, when
a revolutionary movement emerged in northern Mexico.

Juarez was the stage where the first Mexican Revolution battles broke
out to overthrow dictator Porfirio Diaz. Rebels Pascual Orozco and
Francisco "Pancho" Villa formed a military-like alliance and fought in
Juarez for social and land reforms.

City government spokesman Jaime Torres said this year is the first
time Juarez has canceled its Dieciseis de Septiembre celebration since
the insurgents captured the city during the revolution.

Fast forward 99 years later, and Juarez residents will have to watch
the celebration from home on television or via radio.

Torres said Reyes Ferriz will still appear from the third-floor
balcony at the city hall esplanade and commemorate the holiday by
saying AViva Mexico!

Historically, people cry out AViva! after the mayor. But the outgoing
mayor of Juarez this time will hear nothing in response.

City government will set off fireworks at six different sites spread
throughout Juarez, Torres said.

The traditional parade of schoolchildren, marching bands and soldiers
will take place the morning of Sept. 16 but using a different and
shorter route. It will run to the Bridge of the Americas on the
boulevard known as the Malecon.

"We can have better public safety there with no buildings and
residences," said Juarez mayor spokesman Sergio Belmonte. "In that
area there are only trees."

In previous years, the parade took place downtown on the Dieciseis de
Septiembre Avenue.

Tradition aside, Dr. Arturo Valenzuela Zorrilla said canceling the
festival is not a sign of surrender to criminal activities of drug
cartels and their gangs. He leads the volunteer-based committee of
public safety.

"Ciudad Juarez is going through a strong crisis," he said. "It is
prudent to cancel the event."

City government officials did not cite budgetary concerns for the
cancelation. But Valenzuela said that the city government has run out
of money to organize the festival because it has spent more resources
in public safety and lost property tax revenue because of residents
fleeing the violence.

"Right now Ciudad Juarez should not be celebrating," he said.