Bloodshed Continues In Ciudad Juarez

Killings Across the Border Show no Sign of Slowing

Nov 16, 2009 Elvira Nieto

The struggle for control of the border city of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico continues to extract its cost in the form of the lives of its residents.

These have been the bloodiest two years in Mexico’s history during supposed peacetime. Though it is true that with the United States’ backing, the nation of Mexico as a whole did declare war on the drug cartels upon Felipe Calderon’s winning the Mexican presidency in 2006, this particular war continues to spill out into neighborhoods and market places targeting the innocent.

Mexican Soldiers Fill Streets of Ciudad Juarez to no Avail

The streets of Ciudad Juarez are overrun by trucks filled with automatic weapon-carrying Mexican soldiers. One can’t travel more than a few feet without seeing at least two black military trucks filled with eight gun-toting soldiers standing at the ready. At every turn and at just about every corner the soldiers are there: watching and waiting. But still, the carnage in the border city continues to grow with an average of seven killings daily. Finding a dismembered or beheaded body in the middle of a busy street is an occurrence Juarez residents have sadly become accustomed to.

Innocent People Continue to be Caught in the Middle of Drug Violence

On Friday, Nov. 13, 15 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. The city, which sits across the Texas city of El Paso separated by a very narrow stretch of the Rio Grande, appears to be in a constant state of mourning. Among the dead were a 7-year-old boy, three women and a university professor.

As of Sept. 15, 2009, a total of 1,647 people have been killed as a direct result of the ongoing battle between the Mexican officials and the drug cartels. That total surpassed the 2008 death toll which was 1,607. A little more than a month later, the number of dead would exceed the 2,000 mark, and the gruesome number of victims just keeps on climbing.

“El Chapo” Guzman and the Sinaloa Drug Cartel Responsible for Juarez Violence

According to local officials, the reason behind the spike in violence in the border city is a direct result of the arrival and invasion of the Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman-controlled Sinaloa drug cartel. The Sinaloa cartel’s desire for control of the lucrative Ciudad Juarez/El Paso smuggling route is what escalated the “war” between the Sinaloa cartel, Juarez cartel and Mexican federal and local law enforcement.

Recently named as one of the wealthiest billionaires in the world according to the yearly Forbes list (#701)," El Chapo" Guzman worked his way up the Felix Gallardo drug cartel in the late 1980s and 1990s. In 1993, Guzman was arrested and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, but in 2001, he successfully broke out of federal prison, quickly regaining control and expanding the influence and territory of the Sinaloa cartel.

Juarez Residents Live in Fear

Juarez residents dread stepping out of their homes. Many who have been able to, have moved to nearby cities. Even Juarez Mayor, Jose Reyes Ferriz moved his family across the border to El Paso due to cartel threats against both him and his family. Unfortunately, most of the 1.4 million residents don't have the luxury of packing up and moving out. They are forced to live and work amidst the almost daily gun battles.

There are no safe places or safe areas in the city. Attacks have taken place near schools, in restaurants, shopping centers and rehabilitation facilities. Whereas previously, drug-related violence tended to be confined to certain areas of town – bars and nightclubs, for the most part - and would mostly take place at night, this recent rash of shootings has taken place at all hours of the day and night and in all parts of town.

The city as a whole eagerly awaits a return to normalcy. After two years of shootings, beheadings and dismemberments, the soul of Ciudad Juarez longs for a semblance of peace once more.

Sources:

Cuevas-Nazario, Mayra. “Drug-Related Killings Skyrocket in Juarez” CNN World. CNN Online. Retrieved 2009-11-12

Torres, Olivia. “Murders in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, at All-Time High” AP News. October 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-13

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