Thread: Juarez mayor says city has `lack of tranquility`

Juárez mayor says city has 'lack of tranquility'
By Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/16/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT



JUAREZ -- Juárez Mayor José Reyes Ferriz recently sat down with the El Paso Times in his office in the municipal building to discuss the day-time street shootings, dumped bodies and other apparent drug-related violence that has inundated his city this year.

There have been more than 450 homicides in Juárez so far this year, far surpassing the total of about 300 in all of 2007. The rampant homicides have caused a sense of uneasiness for many in this city of an estimated 2 million residents. The military and federal police arrived in late March but the violence continues.

Q When did you know the violence was different from what had been seen in the past?

A We received information at the end of last year that there would be a confrontation between two organized crime groups. It was very precise. There was information that it would start January 6. It actually started on January 5. When we received the information, we shared it with federal authorities. It resulted that the information was true.

In the past there were confrontations of this type but they were sporadic and passed quickly. Not with what is happening this

year, where we've had a large number of people who have died and the confrontation has lasted a long time.
Q How has the violence affected Juárez?

A I think there are two important effects. To Juarenses, it has created a climate of where it does not feel as safe as before. There is a lack of tranquility.

Outside (the city), it has principly affected tourism and, in second place, some investments planned for Ciudad Juárez.

The maquiladora industry is a globalized industry. All of the factories in Ciudad Juárez have plants in other countries -- in Costa Rica, China and other parts. Because of the speed in which the industry moves, they switch products. They change production lines. The plants fight for the new production lines. Some of the investments that were to go to Juárez -- new production lines -- have been suspended or were taken to other plants owned by the same company. That has affected employment numbers (and) the amount of investments in Juárez.

Q Do you fear for your safety?

A No. I think Juarenses feel the same. The confrontation is between organized crime groups. The people not involved in these confrontations do not feel fear. A lot of people have been threatened. The uncertainty that all Juarenses feel is being at the wrong place at the wrong time when one of these confrontations take place. Unfortunately, there have been various innocent people victimized by the violence.

Q What is being done to stop the violence?

A Joint Operation Chihuahua began at the end of March with the objective to try to attack the distribution networks, the safe houses and other operations of organized crime. The operation concentrated on that because it allows for the dismantling of the operations of organized crime.

But the problem is that (the federal effort) has not stopped the confrontations between organized crime groups that is causing the uncertainly and a feeling of lack of security among citizens.

Recently, there were agreements with the military and federal police to have patrols throughout the city to stop the confrontations that are causing a lot of the insecurity. There are patrols being done jointly with municipal police, state police and federal police and the military to prevent the confrontations.

The dismantling of organized crime operations is very important to Juarenses. For Juarenses, it is also important to put a stop to these confrontations.

A big problem we have on the border is that the border is full of weapons coming from the United States.

Q What would you like to see U.S. authorities do to help?

A It think it's important the United States understand that the problems we live with on the border are shared. It is a problem generated by the consumption of drugs in the United States.

The U.S. government needs to do its part. I think it needs to prevent the flow of weapons into Mexico. There is technology to do this. As a municipal government, we would like to do it but we don't have the resources to install that equipment but the U.S. does and it should stop the illegal flow of arms into Mexico.

Q What message do you have for the people in El Paso and the United States?

A I think it's important the correct information reach the people of the United States. I think it's important they know what is occurring. We don't want to hide the situation in Juárez. It is real but it is a conflict by two organized crime groups that, unfortunately, is taking place in Juárez.

The majority, or a large part, of the people who have died are not from Juárez. Many of the bodies of those who died remain unclaimed (in the morgue). They are classified only as 'male, unidentified.' Their own families, I'm sure, do not even know their relatives have died in these confrontations. Fortunately, there have been practically no innocent civilians killed in these encounters. There have been about five innocent civilians killed in about 450 violent deaths in the city in the last five months.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102







http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_9597057

Gee, "'lack of tranquility' seems like such an understatement...