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raferguson

Feb 6, 2008, 1:07 PM

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Wave of violence in Merida?

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I always think of Merida as a backwater quiet spot, so a bit surprised to be reading the headlines in El Diaro de Yucatan.

The top story headline today was "Militarizing the City - Sharpshooters on rooftops for the Constitution day ceremony", and the top photo shows a masked police officer carrying an M16 rifle. The article starts off referring to a wave of violence. Another article says that Merida is beginning to be beset by fear and psychosis.

They found a decapitated head in the garden of the TV Azteca office in Merida. They asked the police chief if there was a message attached to it, and he said no. They have identified the victim as a fisherman from Progreso; perhaps he got caught up in drug smuggling. I know that Mexico is reported to be one of the most dangerous spots on the planet for journalists. I can't imagine being a journalist for TV Azteca, knowing that somebody threw a head in the office garden - Would I be next?

They said that a police officer had been killed Saturday, so I guess two high-profile murders makes a crime wave.

Maybe just a reminder that there is no completely safe place, even sleepy Merida.

Richard

http://www.fergusonsculpture.com

Jim in Cancun / Moderator

Feb 7, 2008, 3:57 AM

Post #2 of 5 (2618 views)

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Re: [raferguson] Wave of violence in Merida?

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Well, there is a new kid on the block. Besides the normal drug running mafia (under increasing pressure with the government crackdown) trying to get more drugs up north to their major customer (supply is down I am told), there is a new Cuban smuggling mafia active on the Yucatan peninsula.

Taking advantage of the U.S. "wet foot, dry foot" policy, Cuban refugees/immigrants arrive in or are brought to the Cancun area (or Progreso???) by boat and then travel through the Yucatan peninsula and arrive "dry" at any immigration border crossing to the U.S. and walk right through by just saying they are Cuban. This has become big business and there are always those who don't like competition or "involvement" from outsiders.

I believe that Mérida, in general, continues to be as it has always been except for these 2 "businesses" and the normal amount of crime that any city its size has. Pickpockets usually don't cut their victim's head off. Let's see what some residents may have to report.

roni_smith

Mar 1, 2008, 6:51 AM

Post #3 of 5 (2529 views)

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Re: [Jim in Cancun] Wave of violence in Merida?

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I read a Merida forum that includes many expatriates there. There has been no large spate of posts about violence against people there. There have been concerns about theft in a small Gulf Coast town, but they recently caught a fellow thay think may have been responsible for some of that.

As far as considering it a sleepy backwater of a town - well, it is one of the major cities of Mexico, without about a million inhabitants. Other than Mexico and Guadalajara, how many are larger, I wonder?
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Planning for Mexico Move Blog

Jim in Cancun / Moderator

Mar 1, 2008, 11:04 AM

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Re: [roni_smith] Wave of violence in Merida?

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For what it's worth: http://www.citypopulation.de/Mexico-Cities.html

roni_smith

Mar 1, 2008, 6:44 PM

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Re: [Jim in Cancun] Wave of violence in Merida?

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Thank you Jim. Cool information !!!
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Planning for Mexico Move Blog