Drug-related violence in Mexico
Police, the military, and the drug organizations in Mexico continue to be in an all-out war, another reason to pray for Mexico.
As I mentioned back in January, the violence in Mexico prompted the CBC to include Mexico on its top 5 world hot-spots for conflict. At the end of last year, Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent 7000 troops into the state of Michoacan, and in January he sent another 3000 into Tijuana. It’s been estimated that there have been 800-1000 deaths from the violence this year alone.
This week two senior anti-drug officers were murdered (one in Mexico City and another in Tijuana). Yesterday armed gunmen captured police right out of their cars and four officers were killed, three kidnapped. They were freed after a gun battle.
In the northern state of Coahuila, the state’s chief anti-kidnapping investigator was himself kidnapped, and is still missing.
But the government has had its successes too, having detained hundreds of gunmen and having burned millions of dollars worth of illegal marijuana plants. Recently police in Mexico City made what could be the biggest seizure of drug cash ever worldwide – US$207 million.
I don’t write this because we personally fear for our safety. The major hot spots are far from where we live. However, this is a major part of understanding where Mexico is at today, and why we continue to ask you to pray for the people of Mexico. These are massive challenges very much on the hearts and minds of people here.
17 May 2007 @ 2:46 pm
It is close to where we live! Yesterday there were 22 killed in a major gunbattle here in Sonora. Since it’s between police and drug gangs we’re not really in danger either. I wouldn’t want to be a police officer here though…
17 May 2007 @ 3:21 pm
Yes indeed – I thought of you when I read the news. I didn’t know exactly how to write that sentence, but I could always use the cliché – “The safest place to be is in the middle of God’s will” . . .
20 May 2007 @ 1:16 pm
Checking in from Tijuana… What Greg says pretty much applies to us here. Although the direct affect has been minimal, we have seen a renewed caution in churches from the U.S. doing mission trips here and even had one large group up and cancel.
http://www.moneymissions.com/Aaron/short-term-missions/canceled-mission-trip
(shameless plug)
Praying for you guys.
Aaron
20 May 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Thanks for the link to your blog entry, Aaron. It’s tricky to communicate the seriousness of the situation without making things sound worse than they are. It’s serious, but it does need to be kept in perspective. Your post is a big help.