Friday, October 10, 2008

The drug cartel crisis currently going on in Nogales has gotten such little U.S. press that I can't help but write about it.

The conflict has been going on since about 2005 between the two drug selling organizations, the Sinaloa and Gulf cartels, whom are fighting for control of the Sonoran-Arizona border, which is highly desired among drug smugglers. The fighting has become more violent, with more law enforcement and political leaders being killed by means of gunfire and even beheadings.

I asked Zelida Hernandez from Nogales, Mexico, whom now lives in Tucson, to take me to her home town one weekend. She replied that she can't because she doesn't even feel safe going back there right now. Not only that, but every day her father crosses the border from Nogales, Ariz. to Mexico and she fears for his life, as he is a prominent figure in Nogales and even she is in danger, because people know she is related to him.

Last Sunday, Oct. 5 marked the 71st homicide this year involving people in the drug cartel "war." This number already surpasses the deaths in 2007 - which totalled about 52 - according to the Arizona Daily Star.

But calling it a war, to some Mexicans, is not politically correct.

"This is not a war," said Perlita Rojas, 21, from Nogales, Mexico, "It's a community instability." Rojas explained that just walking around the city can be life threatening, and she often fears going back home to visit her parents.

Targeted victims are getting shot with AK-47s, said Hernandez and the murderers don't care who's around to go down with them. Recently a political leader and his young daughter were shot in his car, and cartel leaders will shoot into crowds of people in order to find their victim.

Hernandez recently heard news that her friend's husband was shot to death Oct. 3 as a result of the conflict.

It's really horrible, Hernandez said, and we don't know when it will be over.

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