Posted on 04/27/2005 7:59:31 AM PDT by SwinneySwitch
McALLEN — The State Department reissued a travel alert for the Mexico border region Tuesday, citing a "continuing unsettled public security situation" there.
It singled out Nuevo Laredo as a place where more than 30 Americans have been kidnapped or murdered in the past eight months, a statistic that critics of the document said was misleading.
Similar to one issued in late January, the announcement blamed ongoing violence on Mexico's feuding drug cartels and weak police and judicial systems, although it credited the imprisonment of drug gang leaders with creating a power vacuum that started the violence in the first place.
It advised visitors to stick to legitimate business and tourist areas only during the day and avoid red-light districts and neighborhoods where drug dealing occurs.
John Naland, the U.S. consul for Matamoros, said the violent activity that flared earlier this year and made international headlines "has dropped to zero" in places like Matamoros and Reynosa since the first alert was issued.
But Mexico, especially Nuevo Laredo, continues to be plagued by cartel warfare that has killed police and journalists.
"The groups fighting in Nuevo Laredo, there is still a potential for them carrying their fights to other parts of the border," Naland said.
"As was explained back in January, this is not a red light, this is not to say, 'Do not come to the border area.' It's to say when you do come, exercise common sense precaution."
January's alert, which focused on the entire border from Tijuana to the Gulf of Mexico, sparked anger from Mexico's President Vicente Fox after U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza wrote a critical letter to Mexican Cabinet members citying the "inability of local law enforcement to come to grips with the rising drug warfare, kidnappings and random street violence."
Business owners across the border also were angered, saying the travel alert and media coverage of the violence have been much ado about nothing, and hurt livelihoods already struggling with a tourism slump since the 9-11 attacks tightened border security.
"After the (January) alert we were very affected because so many people from the United States and Canada stopped traveling to Mexico, especially to the border strip," said Camilo Martinez, whose family owns the Gran Premiere Hotel in Reynosa and who is the president of that city's Chamber of Commerce.
Fear of the negative economic impact of the alert, he said, mobilized business owners on both sides of the border to work together to keep the traffic flowing between the two countries.
Martinez said security has improved since the election of new Tamaulipas Gov. Eugenio Hernández Flores, and new mayors of Matamoros, Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo.
Tuesday's alert mentioned recent Nuevo Laredo incidents that sent bystanders scurrying for cover: A daytime shootout near a shopping mall and late-night gunfire at the entrance to the international pedestrian bridge.
But Arturo Salgado, a spokesman for the Mexican Consulate in McAllen, said some of the Americans targeted in Nuevo Laredo are people involved in the drug business, including some with dual citizenship who have lived in Mexico most of their lives.
"It's totally inappropriate that (the State Department) would take this action on the citizens of Nuevo Laredo," Jack Suneson, vice president of the Nuevo Laredo Chamber of Commerce, said of the announcement. "It's not open season down here on Americans."
"The missing are on both sides of the border, not Americans from San Antonio, Houston, Austin," he said.
Suneson, who owns the high-end Mexican artisan store Marti's, faults the media for roughing up the image of the city of 400,000.
Guillermo Fernandez del Jauregui, president of the city's Industrial Development Committee, said the violence hasn't hurt the 62 firms employing about 25,000 there. But he's unsure if it's scaring off new investment.
"I think it's kind of unfair because the root of the problem is not the guys smuggling drugs at the border —— it is the (drug) demand that exists in the United States," he said.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- mrhernandez@express-news.net
ZERO, John?
More people each yea are killed and have violent crimes committed against them from illegals coming across our southern border than the 3,000 killed during 9/11. Yet, although billions are spent on "terrorism", not a dime extra is being spent controlling our border with Mexico.
Tex/Mex Border Alert Back On!
Please let me know if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
Like my father used to say..."I haven't lost a thing in Mexico, so I have no reason to go back." LOL (He was down there with Black Jack Pershing chasing Poncho Villa around before they went to France in WWI).
And since a fellow Marine was murdered in Tijuana after getting in one of those infamous blue taxis in 1968, I haven't been back!
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Thanks for the ping.
We have plans in the works to visit northern Mexico and do a little driving, perhaps to Monterey and Satillo area.
One wonders if this is a good course in light of the violence.
What's an infamous blue taxi?
I think it is a very bad idea.
Well we were warned about the taxis in Tijuana in the 1960's "don't get in them" because they had a notorious reputation for taking Marines and Sailors and "rolling" them.
Kinda puts it all in perspective...
But so much as post an offhanded comment about machine guns or land mines & watch the reaction.
""I think it's kind of unfair because the root of the problem is not the guys smuggling drugs at the border —— it is the (drug) demand that exists in the United States," he said. "
Oh ok, then the drug dealers are nice people. Pardon me .
Just selling the deadly drugs Americans are unwilling to sell......
Business owners across the border also were angered, saying the travel alert and media coverage of the violence have been much ado about nothing,...
Thanks. I'm a bit naive about Mexico, having been there only once. I have no desire to go back there.
Well I'm sure you see enough Mexicans in TX, they look and act the same in Mexico. LOL You certainly haven't missed much. And there's plenty of beautiful vacation destinations here in America, so ya might as well support our economy since your tax dollars already pay for the parks, roads, bridges and airports already. LOL
With Black Jack Pershing in Mexico? How old was he when he fathered you? Seventy? Or did you mean your grand dad? Bet he had some great stories.
You're so right. My son and DIL + grandson are in San Diego....which I've not been able to explore thus far. Both are in the USMC.. and are stationed there. I have online friends in Seattle......which is another place I've never been. So the summer plans are already in the making! *grin*
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.