It took many visits, e-mails and phone calls, but many people report that the three officers were kidnapped in the very early morning hours of Monday by a cartel, handcuffed tortured and then killed. Rumors abound that they worked for a cartel and were killed by another cartel. HOWEVER, because nobody knows which cartel was paying them it seems likely that the people are assuming this to be the case. It does seem likely, but where is the proof?
What is more telling about the situation in Acuna are the many friends that refuse to even talk about these murders. Teachers, medical personnel and clergy continue working and my inquiries are met with shrugs. Families avoid discussing the murder of the officers and only tell me to leave Acuna and to be very careful.
Many of the teenagers talk about the cartels as being cool and effective. Many admire the cartels.
It is impossible to point to police officers, detectives or a courageous reporter as a role model. The worldwide scandals involving clergy in the Catholic Church makes it difficult to use priests as role-models. Much of the music and soap operas on TV praise the drug dealers and the cartels.
Everyone waits for more violent acts. Within a 30-day period we've seen a gun-battle between the military and a truckload of gangsters end in front of the Maria Braulia elementary school and three police officers kidnapped and murdered. Everyone waits to see what will happen next.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
3 Police Officers Killed in Acuna
Gunmen kidnapped and murdered three Acuna Police Officers on Monday morning. The three officers were in the same vehicle when kidnapped. Their bodies were found in a colonia.
Information is scarce. Reporters in Acuna, like most of Mexico, are cautious about stories involving the cartels. Their fear is well founded. Reporters in other areas of Mexico have been killed. However, the lack of reliable information is well beyond the media intimidation. For the past three years the people in Acuna fear talking about the cartels. Even close friends will only speak in whispers about the drug cartels. Rumors abound and are exaggerated. A single gunshot quickly becomes a story about a large gun-battle. It is difficult to assess the situation in Acuna.
The Mexican Marines established check points at every entrance to Acuna. They inspected vehicles entering and leaving. Four Mexican Navy helicopters patrolled the city. The helicopters landed in various locations throughout the city and squads of Marines jumped out and patrolled neighborhoods. However, the military issued no statements or explanations. Now there were three police officers killed and we do not know if the Marines were sent to Acuna because there was advance information of the cartel war heating up in Acuna or if it is only coincidental.
I walk the streets of the colonies where a few weeks ago a gunfight involving the military and unknown gunmen ended a little after noon. There is still no explanation from the military and nobody knows the whole story - after weeks have passed. The secrecy leaves the people with nothing but fear and rumors.
As schools consider canceling Christmas celebrations and mission groups from America cancel visits and help to the poor in Acuna, the fear seems to cover the colonies like a rainstorm.
On the surface, things seem normal. People go to work and children go to school. However everyone has the same fear. Sudden and unpredictable violence can happen at any time and at any place. Many parents worry about the safety of their children. Maria expressed it this way: "I go to work and the children are at school. Will there be another gunfight near the school? Will there be a gun-battle on the street when the children return from school? Are they safe?"
In our world of cell-phones, we can always call or text our children or neighbors. They can call or text us. This is not the situation in the colonies. I have yet to see a child with a cell phone. Most parents do not have cell phones. What they have is fear.
Information is scarce. Reporters in Acuna, like most of Mexico, are cautious about stories involving the cartels. Their fear is well founded. Reporters in other areas of Mexico have been killed. However, the lack of reliable information is well beyond the media intimidation. For the past three years the people in Acuna fear talking about the cartels. Even close friends will only speak in whispers about the drug cartels. Rumors abound and are exaggerated. A single gunshot quickly becomes a story about a large gun-battle. It is difficult to assess the situation in Acuna.
The Mexican Marines established check points at every entrance to Acuna. They inspected vehicles entering and leaving. Four Mexican Navy helicopters patrolled the city. The helicopters landed in various locations throughout the city and squads of Marines jumped out and patrolled neighborhoods. However, the military issued no statements or explanations. Now there were three police officers killed and we do not know if the Marines were sent to Acuna because there was advance information of the cartel war heating up in Acuna or if it is only coincidental.
I walk the streets of the colonies where a few weeks ago a gunfight involving the military and unknown gunmen ended a little after noon. There is still no explanation from the military and nobody knows the whole story - after weeks have passed. The secrecy leaves the people with nothing but fear and rumors.
As schools consider canceling Christmas celebrations and mission groups from America cancel visits and help to the poor in Acuna, the fear seems to cover the colonies like a rainstorm.
On the surface, things seem normal. People go to work and children go to school. However everyone has the same fear. Sudden and unpredictable violence can happen at any time and at any place. Many parents worry about the safety of their children. Maria expressed it this way: "I go to work and the children are at school. Will there be another gunfight near the school? Will there be a gun-battle on the street when the children return from school? Are they safe?"
In our world of cell-phones, we can always call or text our children or neighbors. They can call or text us. This is not the situation in the colonies. I have yet to see a child with a cell phone. Most parents do not have cell phones. What they have is fear.
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