Mexican Protest Disrupts Texas-Mexican Border Crossing
Today for the third time in a month transportation workers and taxi drivers in the city of Reynosa, Mexico which sits opposite South Texas have orchestrated a closing of the international bridge allegedly to protest abuses of the Mexican army. Mexico’s President Calderon has been using the Mexican army as his primary weapon to fight the drug cartels in Mexico because of wide spread corruption and ineptitude of police. According to El Universal , the protest began at 8:00 am when “thousands” of taxi drivers and transport drivers blocked the entrances and exits of the bridge. They further reported that the Mexican army withdrew to a government building to avoid confrontation with the demonstrators.
There are reports that cell phones are not working and also some land lines are not working leading some to speculate that communication workers may also be participating. There are also unconfirmed reports of gunfire in the city of Reynosa between Mexican army units and “narcos” the term Mexicans use for those involved with the drug cartel. A grenade attack was reported near a school. The Valley Morning Star is reporting at least 5 dead in Reynosa.
Other similar protests are occurring all along the Texas-Mexican border from Cuidad Juarez across from El Paso to Reynosa across from McAllen. Mexican Army and government officials believe that the protests are being organized by the drug cartels. Truckers and transport companies have also been demanding that the government freeze the price of diesel and have staged slow-downs or strikes in other parts of Mexico recently.
Drug violence has killed over 6,000 people in Mexico in just the last year. Twenty-four Mexican journalist have been killed by drug cartels and thousands of policeman have quit their jobs on threat of death to themselves and their families. Mexican drug cartels now openly recruit with large signs strewn over highways and on the internet including on You Tube.
President Calderon began the drug war offensive in 2006 against the three major drug cartels in Mexico. Although he has arrested numerous kingpins, arrested hundreds of cartel associates, and confiscated thousands of weapon and drug catches many say the tide has not yet turned.
Tony Magaña grew up in McAllen Texas, attended Texas A&M University, served as an officer in Army Reserve, and holds a doctorate from Harvard University. The co-founder of Contempo Magazine has participated in Valley business for over 20 years.He is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
