News (Media Awareness Project) - US TX: Editorial: Federal Police: Juarez Mayor Rightfully Upset |
| Title: | US TX: Editorial: Federal Police: Juarez Mayor Rightfully Upset |
| Published On: | 2011-02-01 |
| Source: | El Paso Times (TX) |
| Fetched On: | 2011-03-09 14:42:45 |
FEDERAL POLICE: JUAREZ MAYOR RIGHTFULLY UPSET
Now Juarez has a rift between two groups charged with keeping the
peace -- the "good guys" in the long battle to rid Mexico of
drug-cartels.
A bodyguard for Juarez Mayor Hector Murguia was shot outside a
residence where Murguia was having dinner last week. And four federal
agents have been arrested -- to determine who pulled the trigger. The
two sides, which are supposed to be on the same side, have conflicting
stories.
Thus we can understand why Murguia was scheduled to be in Mexico City
on Friday to get some answers.
We can understand Murguia's frustration, and even his contemplation of
asking the federal government to pull its troops out of the city.
This shooting comes amid a long list of citizen complaints about abuse
levied by federal police and the Mexican army; there's also much
criticism that their presence has not helped quell drug-cartel
violence. Seldom is there an arrest, but 3,100 persons were killed in
2010, 2,600 in 2009 and 1,600 in the first year of terror, 2008.
Murguia's other protectors said the slain guard, Jorge Humberto Munoz
Perez, had dropped his weapon and raised his hands, then was shot.
Murguia said another bodyguard saved himself by hitting the ground.
Federal agents said they had received a report of men carrying
weapons. Upon arriving at the scene, they said they were only
protecting themselves because the men had guns pointed in their direction.
Witnesses said the man who was killed had identified himself as a
bodyguard for the mayor.
Murguia said he went to the nearby hotel where federal police officers
are lodged. He said ... "We were received with profanities."
Federal police said they did not know Murguia was the
mayor.
This is a disconnect of the most serious nature -- federal police
shooting a protector of the mayor. And both sides giving conflicting
stories.
Federal police in Juarez had been doing a poor job of making the city
safe from drug violence -- and now they are shooting the wrong people.
Murguia has every right to be incensed.
Now Juarez has a rift between two groups charged with keeping the
peace -- the "good guys" in the long battle to rid Mexico of
drug-cartels.
A bodyguard for Juarez Mayor Hector Murguia was shot outside a
residence where Murguia was having dinner last week. And four federal
agents have been arrested -- to determine who pulled the trigger. The
two sides, which are supposed to be on the same side, have conflicting
stories.
Thus we can understand why Murguia was scheduled to be in Mexico City
on Friday to get some answers.
We can understand Murguia's frustration, and even his contemplation of
asking the federal government to pull its troops out of the city.
This shooting comes amid a long list of citizen complaints about abuse
levied by federal police and the Mexican army; there's also much
criticism that their presence has not helped quell drug-cartel
violence. Seldom is there an arrest, but 3,100 persons were killed in
2010, 2,600 in 2009 and 1,600 in the first year of terror, 2008.
Murguia's other protectors said the slain guard, Jorge Humberto Munoz
Perez, had dropped his weapon and raised his hands, then was shot.
Murguia said another bodyguard saved himself by hitting the ground.
Federal agents said they had received a report of men carrying
weapons. Upon arriving at the scene, they said they were only
protecting themselves because the men had guns pointed in their direction.
Witnesses said the man who was killed had identified himself as a
bodyguard for the mayor.
Murguia said he went to the nearby hotel where federal police officers
are lodged. He said ... "We were received with profanities."
Federal police said they did not know Murguia was the
mayor.
This is a disconnect of the most serious nature -- federal police
shooting a protector of the mayor. And both sides giving conflicting
stories.
Federal police in Juarez had been doing a poor job of making the city
safe from drug violence -- and now they are shooting the wrong people.
Murguia has every right to be incensed.
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