Thread: Law enforcement warned not to visit Juarez , 11 bodies found

Law enforcement warned not to visit Juárez, 11 bodies found
By Adriana M. Chávez / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 05/23/2008 04:15:11 PM MDT


A family watches Army soldiers pass through their neighborhood during an anti-drug operation in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday, May 13, 2008. Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has sent thousands of soldiers and federal police across the nation to confront the drug cartels. (AP photo / El Paso Times illustration)
Related
Juarez Violence
May 23:
Juárez police find three charred bodies in carFive bodies, two heads found on street in JuárezE-mail: Weekend will be 'bloodiest and deadliest'May 21:
14-year-old boy among latest slain in JuárezMay 20:
Ex-army major to lead Juárez police forceMay 19:
Retired Mexican army major named new public safety secretary for JuárezFlorida woman says man slain in Juarez is husbandMay 18:
3 more slain in JuárezLocal law enforcement on Friday were being warned about traveling to Juárez in the wake of threats of a "bloody" weekend and at least 11 murders since Thursday.

Although representatives from law enforcement agencies would not confirm such warnings given to officers, there have been reports that law enforcement are being asked to refrain from visiting Juárez after an e-mail was sent out this week warning that this weekend will be the "bloodiest and deadliest" in the city's history.

"There hasn't been anything like that," said Javier Sambrano, spokesman for the El Paso Police Department.

On Thursday, several versions of a e-mail began circulating with an English translation warning residents to stay home and out of nightclubs, and to avoid major streets during the day. The e-mail warned of shootings and executions throughout Juárez during a limpia, or cleansing, in response to threats from drug traffickers. In response to the e-mail, Juárez Mayor José Reyes FerrÃ*z canceled his trip to Columbia and returned to the city late Friday.

Sambrano said that U.S. citizens traveling to Juárez this weekend are being advised to contact the U.S. Consulate to get a sense of how the growing violence will affect them. El Paso Police are in "constant communication" with police officials in Juárez, Sambrano said, and there is no sign that any of the violence will spill into El Paso.

El Paso County Sheriff's spokesman Jesus Tovar said that although deputies don't expect the violence
to spread to El Paso, they are prepared.
"In case it does spill over, we're ready," Tovar said. "We work well with other local and federal agencies, and so far it's business as usual."

There were also reports that U.S. Department of Homeland Security employees also were being advised not to travel to Juárez, but Nicole Thompson, the department's spokeswoman in Washington, D.C., said only that a travel advisory issued in April to citizens planning to visit northern Mexico still stands.

"There's not an alert issued specifically for Juárez. There is mention of some of the violence and some of the activities there," Thompson said. "The alert extends to all American citizens, but it doesn't forbid them from traveling anywhere."

Friday's warnings were issued on the heels of at least 11 murders in Juárez since Thursday evening, including the discovery of five bodies in an empty lot near Prolongación Vicente Guerrero and Antonio J. Bermúdez streets Friday morning.

All five were wrapped in blankets, and two had been decapitated with their heads wrapped in white plastic. Attached to the bodies was a note calling them "traitors" who were associated with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel. The note was signed "La LÃ*nea," which is reputed to be a line of corrupt police officers protecting drug traffickers.

Three other bodies were also found Friday afternoon in the Santa Teresa colonia near Maria Del Carmen ManÃ*ex and Antonio Machado streets. The bodies had been burned and were found in a gold 1994 Oldsmobile. A note reading "X marranos traicioneros," or "treasonous pigs," was also found in the car.

The 11 murders prompted a call from Juárez's PRI party to Mexican President Felipe Calderón, a PAN-ista, to strengthen military presence in the city in response to the violence.

"Where is (Calderón) with his supposed actions against drug trafficking," PRI officials wrote in a news release. "He announced through the media the arrival of 2,000 troops who we're not seeing."

Since earlier this year, more than 3,000 Mexican federal soldiers have been deployed to patrol Juárez streets.

Adriana M. Chávez may be reached at achavez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6117.

Reporter Daniel Borunda contributed to this story.









http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_9361450?s ... ost_viewed







[/img][/img]

Mexican officials warns Americans to stay away

By Michael Webster: Investigative Reporter May 23, 2008 12:00 p.m. PDT

An anonymous e-mail has surfaced and is spreading like wild fire on both sides of the border. The e-mail warning predicts that this weekend will be the "bloodiest and deadliest" in the city's history.

The e-mail has alarmed Juárez Mexico police officials. Juarez is the city just across the river from El Paso Texas. Police officials are issuing an alert and a call for Juarez residents to stay calm, and El Pasoans to cancel any plans they may have across the border for this long Labor day week end. Many critics of the Bush administration find it ironic that the Mexican officials issue a warning to Americans yet the U.S. Government remains silent on the matter.

Five bodies wrapped in blankets have been found today in a busy downtown Juarez area near Prolongación Vicente Guerrero and Antonio J. Bermudez streets.

The identified bodies have yet to be described by police as to approximate age’s race or sex. The bodies were found along with two decapitated heads with a message allegedly written by drug traffickers. Juarez police have yet to release details about the message. But it is believed to be a warning and more threats.

As the death count in Juárez mounts, residents on both sides of the border now are fearful of traveling to Juarez and many have canceled any such plans.

"We ask the community to maintain calm and exercise security measures for themselves and their family, but we ask that they do not panic," public safety secretary Roberto Orduña Cruz said in a statement.

Orduña said that the "threat" was being taken seriously but that residents should go about their regular business.

Several versions of the e-mail were in circulation Thursday, including one with an English translation that warned residents to stay in their homes, stay out of nightclubs and avoid major streets if traveling during the day.

"There will be shootings and executions throughout the city in what is being called 'La Limpia' (the cleansing) in response to threats by the 'Juárez drug cartel' or 'La Linea,' " the e-mail stated in Spanish.

La Linea is reputed to be a "line" of corrupt police officers protecting drug traffickers. Dozens of Juarez police officers have been among the more than 300 homicides in Juárez this year. Many of the killings have been committed boldly and in broad daylight on busy downtown Juarez boulevards. Juarez is a Mexican border city of a million and half people.

The El Paso times reported today that west Side resident Elizabeth Wierson was forwarded the e-mail by her son. She and other parents of Loretto Academy graduates had been scheduled to take their daughters to a graduation dance in Juárez tonight, but they changed their plans because of security concerns even after spending hundreds of dollars, she said.

"You can't really put a price on safety," Wierson said. "We decided not to go."

The e-mails spread like a standard urban legend. Each recipient was asked to forward it to family and friends for their safety. Juárez news media also did reports on it.

"There is definitely a psychosis in Juárez," said Tony Payan, a Mexico expert at the University of Texas at El Paso.

http://www.lagunajournal.com/mexican_of ... erican.htm

What the heck is the Mexican military doing down there to protect those people? Nothing?

11 more bodies found in Juárez
By Adriana M. Chávez and Darren Meritz / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 05/24/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT


A family watches Army soldiers pass through their neighborhood during an anti-drug operation in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Tuesday, May 13, 2008. Mexico's President Felipe Calderon has sent thousands of soldiers and federal police across the nation to confront the drug cartels. (AP photo / El Paso Times illustration)Related
Juarez Violence
May 23:
Law enforcement warned not to visit Juárez, 11 bodies foundJuárez police find three charred bodies in carFive bodies, two heads found on street in JuárezE-mail: Weekend will be 'bloodiest and deadliest'May 21:
14-year-old boy among latest slain in JuárezMay 20:
Ex-army major to lead Juárez police forceMay 19:
Retired Mexican army major named new public safety secretary for JuárezFlorida woman says man slain in Juarez is husband
Comment on this story

Juárez recorded at least 11 more homicides linked to organized crime Friday, leading U.S. law enforcement officials to urge El Pasoans to use caution when traveling across the border.

The deaths included the discovery of five bodies wrapped in blankets in an empty lot in an upscale east Juárez neighborhood about a mile from the border, near Prolongación Vicente Guerrero and Antonio J. Bermúdez streets.

The grizzly find came less than a day after an anonymous e-mail warning predicted this would be the "bloodiest and deadliest" weekend in the city's history.

Two of the bodies were decapitated and wrapped in white plastic. Attached to them was a note calling them "traitors" who were associated with a reputed leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel.

The note was signed "La Linea," or The Line, a name given to corrupt police officers who allegedly protect drug traffickers, according to police documents.

Also Friday, municipal police found three unidentified male bodies in the Santa Teresa colonia in a gold 1994 Oldsmobile, where police found a note in blue ink that read "X marranos traicioneros," or "treasonous pigs."

Two of the victims, partly burned, were discovered in the trunk, while the third was found handcuffed in the back seat.

The 11 homicides prompted a call








http://origin.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9365078

Mexican officials warns Americans to stay away

Why isn't the United States Government warning American citizens not to travel to Mexico? It might insult Mexican authorities?

SO i guess the story about the email and what was in that email is TRUE