NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FORMER BORDER PATROL OFFICERS
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Foreign News Report
The National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers (NAFBPO) extracts and condenses the material that follows from Mexican and Central and South American on-line media sources on a daily basis. You are free to disseminate this information, but we request that you credit NAFBPO as being the provider.
El Universal (Mexico City) and Entorno a Tamaullipas (Tamaulipas) 2/17/09
The Mexican Army and Federal Police are maintaining a “state of siege” in commercial areas of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, after a moving gun battle began this morning. So far there are a reported 10 deaths, five from the federal troops and five from the criminal gangs. There are also a reported 20 wounded and several arrests. The battle began mid-morning near a school and left two people dead in a vehicle and at least two Federal Police gravely wounded. The battle continued along nearby streets and through at least four commercial centers where gunfire and grenade explosions could be heard along with cries for aid by officers wounded. As the battle progressed, explosions continued and bodies were left on the streets. A soldier, blown apart, was left on the pavement. In the areas under siege, many people were trapped in businesses, unable to venture out . The situation resulted in blocking roads and international bridges in the area and for the city of Reynosa to close off entry. At the time of the news report, there has been no official version of the events. [The map relates.]
El Porvenir (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon) 2/17/09
Public demonstrations continue in Monterrey protesting the Army’s role in fighting the narco war. Today, the Governor of the state announced that he has evidence that organized crime is behind the protests and named the likely group as Los Zetas, a division of the Gulf drug cartel. He cites recent similar demonstrations in other border areas, in which public officials, including police, have received threats. The sign in the photo reads, “The soldiers don’t let us live in peace.”
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Prensa Libre (Guatemala City, Guatemala) 2/17/09
The Director of the Guatemalan National Police, Marlene Blanco, asserts that it is very burdensome for Guatemala to safeguard the members and leaders of Los Zetas in prison. She is of the opinion that it would be better if their extradition to Mexico were expedited. “We have 69 agents watching the area in which the leader of Los Zetas, El Cachete, is held in maximum security.” She feel the agents would serve better by “looking after the people, not criminals.”
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Frontera (Tijuana, Baja California) 2/17/09
Last Saturday, 157 dogs were discovered crowded into cages in a house in Tijuana. Three men were arrested in connection with the discovery and an investigation ensued to determine the purpose of the odorous collection. One of the strongest lines of inquiry is the possible sale of the animals to taco stands and fast food restaurants in Tijuana. Although no results of the investigation have yet been published, today’s Frontera reports that there have been 20 requests for adoption of the dogs by local residents.
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