Pubdate: Sat, 22 Mar 2008
Source: Las Cruces Sun-News (NM)
Copyright: 2008 Las Cruces Sun-News
Contact:  http://www.lcsun-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/674

PALOMAS IN DIRE STRAITS

 From more than 100 miles away, and across a national  border, it is
difficult for us to say exactly what is  going on these days in
Palomas, Mexico.

But we can say with a great deal of certainty that it's  a
mess.

Escalating violence in recent weeks has led to the  town's police
chief and other law enforcement officers  fleeing for their safety.
Police Chief Emilio Perez  showed up at the port of entry leading to
Columbus  earlier this week seeking asylum. He told U.S.  Immigration
officials that the town's two police  officers had also fled, and he
didn't know where they  were.

Those actions would seem to have turned the community  over, at least
for the time being, to the drug cartels  who have been waging a deadly
battle for control of the  narcotics trade in the region.

Gov. Bill Richardson's office tells us Mexican state  and federal
police have been moving into the area in  recent weeks, but they
clearly have not been able to  stem the violence. This is further
proof that National  Guard troops are still needed on the border until
the  full complement of additional Border Patrol officers  has been
trained and stationed, Richardson's spokesman  said.

For years, Palomas has been a popular destination for  southern New
Mexicans looking for a deal on prescription drugs and medical
services, or simply a shopping outing at the Pink Store. But the
violence in recent weeks has made Palomas too dangerous to justify the
possible savings.

Columbus Mayor Eddie Espinoza was having dental work  done Sunday in
Palomas when armed gunmen robbed the  dentist's office while he was in
the middle of a root  canal. Espinoza said the procedure wasn't
completed,  but he's not sure that he wants to go back.

Our advice to anyone thinking of going to Palomas is to  exercise
extreme caution. Don't take large amounts of  cash, be aware of your
surroundings, and travel in  groups. For the time being, probably the
best advice is  to just not go.
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MAP posted-by: Derek