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Rolly

Nov 10, 2010, 4:40 PM

Post #1 of 10 (3213 views)

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An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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E. Eduardo Castillo, The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY - A letter allegedly signed by a major Mexican drug cartel offers to dissolve the gang if the government promises to protect citizens in the western state where it is based, authorities said Wednesday.

Prosecutors said they couldn't immediately verify the letter's authenticity — or the offer's sincerity — but stressed the federal government does not negotiate with drug cartels.
The one-page letter allegedly signed by "La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel was dropped in the streets of some mountain towns in the western state of Michoacan on Tuesday, according to the Michoacan bureau of the federal Attorney General's Office. It also showed up as a banner above an overpass and was sent as an email to reporters. The missive claims La Familia wants to protect Michoacan and its residents and says the group will disband if federal police promise to act honestly and fight to the death to defend the state.

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Rolly Pirate

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dongringo_catemaco

Nov 10, 2010, 4:47 PM

Post #2 of 10 (3201 views)

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Re: [Rolly] An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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What did they do? Run out of bedsheets to send messages? Walmart should be notified to improve their service to the area.
Visit Catemaco News

chinagringo

Nov 10, 2010, 5:04 PM

Post #3 of 10 (3187 views)

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Re: [Rolly] An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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http://www.blogdelnarco.com/...nvia-narco.html#more

The above link has what is reported to be the entire contents of the letter.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Reefhound

Nov 10, 2010, 6:19 PM

Post #4 of 10 (3144 views)

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Re: [Rolly] An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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Propaganda to make themselves look like the "good guys" and justify their actions.

They talk as if their only function is to protect the public and not manufacture and distribute meth.

Of course the government won't "meet these terms", vague as they are, and then it will be "found necessary" to continue to fight.

richmx2

Nov 10, 2010, 8:34 PM

Post #5 of 10 (3112 views)

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Re: [Rolly] An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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Just having a rationale beyond plain old capitalist enterprise made La Familia is an odd duck among the criminal gangs... or maybe not. It modeled a lot of its philosophy and structure on the U.S. based "Focus on the Family" literature, and for a time, at least, had a quasi-reputable side that did things like sponsor seminars on "family values" type activities ... and, according to crime researcher types, made their hitmen and drug dealers take morals pledges -- not to use drugs, among others (nothing about selling or manufacturing them). Who knows... they're just weird enough for the letter to be genuine.

http://mexfiles.net
http://voiceofmexico.com
http://editorialmazatlan.com

Peter

Nov 10, 2010, 9:34 PM

Post #6 of 10 (3100 views)

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Re: [richmx2] An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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I have heard many stories about La Familia stepping in to "keep the peace" or enact punitive measures to prompt some wayward youths to clean up their act, etc.

I don't know that I consider it entirely immoral to traffic in an illegal commodity that has a large market demand. This whole affair is tricky. I am in no way a prohibitionist. Some things, like meth, are dangerous. Other things like pot really have no good reason to be restricted, not in an environment that permits more dangerous substances like alcohol to be widely marketed and distributed. Looking at the two pot is the more benign substance. When money and power become the motivator all normal reason goes out the window.

Gringal

Nov 11, 2010, 6:41 AM

Post #7 of 10 (3033 views)

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Re: [Peter] An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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Are those the same guys that dropped the heads on the dance floor and the grenades in the plaza?

chinagringo

Nov 11, 2010, 6:55 AM

Post #8 of 10 (3025 views)

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Re: [Gringal] An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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Gringal:

The list of horrific acts by this particular cartel is a real contradiction to the "good guy" tone of their reported letter and previous mission statements.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Reefhound

Nov 11, 2010, 7:38 AM

Post #9 of 10 (3009 views)

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Re: [Peter] An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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I have no doubts that they have done many deeds like punishing criminals and stopping drug usage for the "good of the community". Of course, with any vigilante situation the question becomes one of due process (which may be a laughable concept in Mexico anyway). By what process do they determine that one is "guilty"? I would bet a lot of innocent people have been "punished" (by the state and the cartel) but the difference is with the state you at least (usually) remain alive and have some - however slight - chance at appeal or reform.

I also whether they do these things out of altruism or because they decided it makes good business sense. In other words, if they got out of the drug business, would they bother to still perform these "community services"?

As for morality, meth is a very dangerous drug. Even La Familia thinks so for they have said these drugs destroy their youths and they don't want them in their area. That really makes them hypocrites, or worse, as they apparently see people from outside their area as sub-human not worthy of the same standards.

Does a large market demand for something dangerous and illegal justify the trafficking in it? Does that mean an assassin is justified because, "hey someone wanted those people dead, just filling the demand, sir"?

(This post was edited by Reefhound on Nov 11, 2010, 7:43 AM)

Gringal

Nov 11, 2010, 8:19 AM

Post #10 of 10 (2992 views)

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Re: [Reefhound] An odd letter purporting to be from La Familia Michoacana" drug cartel

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Indeed, the old time Mafia sometimes performed helpful acts for certain petitioners.

However, selling something just because there is a demand......can be compared to doing murder for hire in terms of morality. I'm sure there is a demand for five year old girls and boys by pedophiles.