Pubdate: Fri, 28 Jan 2005
Source: Washington Post (DC)
Page: A21
Copyright: 2005 The Washington Post Company
Contact:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491
Author: Mary Jordan, Washington Post Foreign Service
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Mexico

MEXICO SAYS U.S. WARNING IS UNFAIR

Fox 'Laments' Alert on Border Violence

MEXICO CITY -- A U.S. State Department warning to American
citizens about a "deteriorating security situation" on the U.S.-Mexico
border provoked an angry response Thursday from Mexican officials, who
called it unfair. They pointed out that the United States, as the
world's largest consumer of illegal drugs, shares blame in a recent
spate of drug-related killings and kidnappings, some of which involved
U.S. citizens.

President Vicente Fox issued a statement late Thursday that said his
government "does not accept judgment" from any foreign government and
"laments the alarm" that could be caused by the warning.

Santiago Creel, Mexico's interior minister, echoed the theme in a
televised interview, saying Mexico in recent years has had
unprecedented success in arresting drug cartel leaders. "I wish there
were more capos in U.S. prisons, and above all, that they do something
about the problem of consumption: Of course it's what drives drug
trafficking," Creel said.

The State Department warning, issued Wednesday in conjunction with a
letter from the U.S. ambassador, noted that "Mexico's police forces
suffer from lack of funds and training, and the judicial system is
weak, overworked, and inefficient. Criminals, armed with an impressive
array of weapons, know there is little chance they will be caught."

In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told
reporters Thursday that 27 Americans have been kidnapped in the last
six months on the Mexican side of the border, two of whom were killed
and 11 of whom remain missing.

"We do feel it's important to tell Americans about the security
situation near the border," Boucher said. "There are a great many
people who visit back and forth, and we do note that the vast, vast
majority . . . visit without any mishaps or difficulties."

U.S. law enforcement officials have said that while some of the 27
U.S. citizens were innocent victims, more were involved in the drug
trade. They also said they were frustrated that the abductions were
being treated as a local problem in which more experienced Mexican
federal officials could not intervene.

An FBI official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there had
been no progress on these cases, despite considerable evidence and
witnesses in some instances.

U.S. Ambassador Antonio O. Garza also sent a letter to Mexican
officials this week saying, "I worry that the inability of local law
enforcement to come to grips with rising drug warfare, kidnappings and
random street violence will have a chilling effect on the cross-border
exchange."

Mexicans are worried, too, about the economic effect of the U.S.
warnings. Thousands of U.S. citizens cross into Mexico every day to
shop and visit relatives, but that traffic has sharply dropped off in
some areas along the border, hurting local businesses.

An exceptional number of Mexicans have been killed along the border --
nearly 100 in three states alone this month. Federal officials here
have attributed the violence to warring cartels. Fox's government has
won praise for arresting many drug cartel leaders, but now some are
causing turmoil and violence from prison.

Two of the biggest drug leaders, Benjamin Arellano Felix and Osiel
Cardenas Guillen, joined forces behind bars, according to Mexican
officials. They said the two plotted drug shipments and ordered
executions from adjoining cells in La Palma penitentiary. Federal
officials took over La Palma with soldiers and tanks earlier this month. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake