Pubdate: Sun, 04 Apr 2010
Source: El Paso Times (TX)
Copyright: 2010 El Paso Times
Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/formnewsroom
Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829
Author: Diana Washington Valdez
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/Topic/Mexico

ARMED COMMANDO TRIES TO BURN CHURCH IN BORDER VILLAGE AMID THREATS

A group of armed men tried to burn down the church in the Valle de 
Juarez following warnings for everyone to leave.

A watchman for the church across the border from Fabens, Texas, said 
the armed commando tried to break down the large wooden door to the 
church near midnight on Friday.

After the armed men failed to open the door, they poured gasoline at 
the front entrance and started a fire before leaving.

Neighbors who got wind of what was happening rushed to put out the church fire.

A string of communities in the Valle de Juarez (Valley of Juarez) has 
come under attack in recent months by warring drug cartels.

Residents complained that authorities are not doing anything to 
prevent the murders and arsons.

Chihuahua state authorities said the bodies of two teenage boys 
riddled with bullets were found Saturday in El Sauzal, which is in 
the Valle de Juarez.

Anonymous written messages were left in Guadalupe and Praxedis 
Guerrero last week, telling residents to leave the area by Easter 
Sunday before their homes were burned.

Over the past two months, unknown people have burned several homes in the area.

The West Texas border region is considered a strategic drug smuggling 
corridor, which has led to a bloody battle between the Carrillo 
Fuentes and Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman cartels.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom