Juárez Valley: Violence heads east along border

El Paso Times Editorial Board
Posted: 04/08/2010 12:00:00 AM MDT

Stories coming out of the Valley of Juárez indicate that the drug-driven violence has been drifting east from the city of Juárez.

That recognition finally became "official" Tuesday when Chihuahua Gov. José Reyes Baeza announced his intention to beef up state police presence in the Valley.

Baeza said, "There is a group of criminals that is trying to take over the Valley of Juárez, and we are not going to allow this.

"We are going to intensify the presence of Coordinated Operation Chihuahua so that residents there can again feel safe. We cannot allow this group to continue terrorizing the people."

It wasn't immediately clear what Baeza meant by "this group."

Reports coming out of Valley of Juárez border communities are frightening. Attempted arson at a church. People being notified to get out of town or else. Armed groups roaming the area and engaging in extortion, robbery and murder.

It's open to question whether sending state police into the Valley is going to do much good. Mexican government and police efforts in Juárez and elsewhere in drug-troubled areas haven't done much good.

Also, much like what's happening in Juárez, there are fears that the violence will spill over into the United States. Going east from Juárez, the terrain becomes more open and there are more opportunities to cross the border. That is a worry for Americans living along the border.

Then there's the problem of Mexicans who are, quite understandably, fleeing north to escape the violence.

No one wants to live in imminent and continual fear of being killed, or having their families killed.
No one knows for sure how many refugees there have been, but if the violence continues at current or escalated rates, many more should be expected.

The fact that violence is spreading east from Juárez is yet another indication that the situation is out of control and that the Mexican government's anti-cartel strategy is effectively useless.

Drug cartels and gangs, emboldened by their successes, are moving east. The Mexican government needs to stop that movement.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_14839210