Mayor slain in Mexican border town

Mayor slain in Mexican border town

The Associated Press
9:42 p.m. October 8, 2009

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Unidentified assailants kidnapped and killed the top official of the border town of Palomas, across from New Mexico, on Thursday.

Town Mayor Estanislao Garcia Santelis had long complained about the drug traffickers and migrant smugglers active around Palomas.
Arturo Sandoval, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office in northern Chihuahua state, said Garcia Santelis' bullet-riddled body was found near a burned-out pickup truck and bore signs of torture.

Palomas made headlines in 2008 when its police chief sought asylum in the U.S. after his deputies abandoned him and he received death threats. The Mexican army subsequently took over law enforcement in the tiny town.
Garcia Santelis led protests against high electricity rates, and some residents accused him of mismanaging civic funds. He previously told local media of receiving threats from criminals, but did not single out a specific gang.

There have been numerous killings in and around Palomas in recent months, part of cartel turf wars and drug-related violence that have contributed to more than 13,500 deaths since late 2006.

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/ ... dex=179708

This is ALL coming to America.

Tensions high in Palomas after mayor is killed

Posted: Oct 9, 2009 03:25 PM

Updated: Oct 9, 2009 05:02 PM

COLUMBUS, NM -- Tensions are high in the border towns of Palomas, Chihuahua; and Columbus, New Mexico after the kidnapping and murder of the Mexican town's police chief.

"Someday they can shoot me," said Anita Rodriguez, a U.S. citizen who lives in Chihuahua City. The fear was clearly present in her voice and mannerisms.

Rodriguez said Mexico's ongoing drug violence is on her mind every time she leaves the safety of the U.S. behind to travel back to Chihuahua through the Palomas port of entry. "It's very frightening just to travel on the roads because you don't know when a bullet is going to fly by. It's very scary," she said.

The mayor of Palomas, Estanislao Garcia Santelis, was found murdered outside the town about 4 p.m. Thursday, according to XHIJ Channel 44, ABC-7's news partners in Juarez. His body was found riddled with bullets near the burned-out shell of his white pickup truck.

Friends and family of Garcia told XHIJ Garcia was kidnapped by unknown persons Thursday morning. He had received numerous death threats in the days prior to this kidnapping, they added.

Still, traffic at the border remains busy. Guards remain on high-alert as people travel in and out of the U.S. and Mexico.

Police in Columbus said more cars than usual can be seen parked along the streets in the town, and said that is to be expected.

"When there's acts of violence across the border it forces for some of the citizens of Palomas or the border to come where they feel safe, said Angelo Vega, the Police Chief of Columbus, New Mexico.

Vega said he anticipates the number of people coming across the border into Columbus as the deadly violence increases across the border in the days to come.

"When we have an act of violence in Palomas, which is a step over from our jurisdiction, we prepare for the worst," Vega said.

http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=11290171