Rolly
Feb 22, 2009, 11:43 AM
Post #2 of 7
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I live on the border between the states of Durango and Coahuila. I can’t speak for the totality of either state, but here is what I know about my area, called Laguna and made of Lerdo and Gomez Palacio in Durango and Torreón across the Rio Nazas in Coahuila.
First a little history. Last summer the drug gang known as the Zetas attacked local dealers and police in Lerdo. I reported on that at some length here: http://www.mexconnected.com/...i?post=119659#119659
After the army arrived, things quieted down and the reign of terror seemed to be over. The last overt act by the gang was to steal a large quantity of dynamite from our local stone quarry. There have been no reports of its being used.
In mid-September the floods came and lasted until late November. http://www.mexconnected.com/...i?post=121387#121387
During that time the army and the floods seem to have kept the Zetas at bay. But since the first the year, they have returned in force. Things are still fairly quite in Lerdo, but in other parts of Laguna there have been a number of gun battles between the Zetas and the army + federal and local police. In the past week more than 20 men have been killed and an unannounced number wounded. Several Zatas have been captured – the exact number seems to depend on who’s doing the counting.
In one of the most blatant attacks, a hand grenade was thrown into an army check point at the approach to the main bridge between Gomez Palacio and Torreón. Three men were killed and others injured. Traffic on this main artery was disrupted for hours.
One of the most bizarre events yet happened last week at the university where my friend Nery is a student. The university just moved to a brand new, very nice campus north of Gomez Palacio. It’s on a dirt road about two kilometers from the highway going north to Juarez. Last week three large black SUVs loaded with masked men carrying big guns arrived on campus. The small local police guard group beat a hasty retreat. The Zetas confronted the Jefe of the university and informed him that he was not to hold classes in the afternoon. No explanation given. Morning and night class could continue, but not in the afternoon. The school pleaded for the army to setup a road block, but the army is stretched too thin, so afternoon classes have been suspended for the time being. This kills two of Nery’s classes. Much head scratching over this one.
Reacting to the drug gang violence has been hampered by squabbling and poor coordination among the local police, the federal police and the army. This has been an especially acute problem in Torreón where the police force is widely perceived as ineffective and corrupt. The army has arrested a number Torreón policemen. The army has not been without its own problems. Several soldiers where arrested for looting houses they were assigned to guard. All this leaves the citizenry with a low confidence in the authorities. I don’t know anyone who thinks the end is in sight, if there is an end.
Rolly 
E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook
(This post was edited by Rolly on Feb 22, 2009, 1:06 PM)
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