Kilimanjaro Report post Posted June 22, 2010 M3 Report -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OVER THE WEEKEND: NICARAGUA ALSO STRUGGLES WITH IMMIGRATION LAW; US AND EUROPE SCOLDED Posted: 21 Jun 2010 07:01 AM PDT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FORMER BORDER PATROL OFFICERS Visit our website: http://www.nafbpo.org 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. To subscribe, click here Saturday 6/19/10 El Nuevo Diario (Managua, Nicaragua) 6/18/10 Proposed Nicaragua law found to be like Arizona’s Articles in an immigration bill being reviewed for approval by the National Assembly in Managua, Nicaragua, have sparked a controversy for being as “drastic” as those of Costa Rica and the US. The following article from El Nuevo Diario, titled “New immigration law would be ‘dehumanizing’ “ and translated in full, sums up the opposition’s arguments: “New immigration law would be ‘dehumanizing’“ If the Immigration and Alien Law were approved, particularly in its present state, its Articles 153 to 158 would require every hotel, inn and motel, as well as public transport and taxi drivers, to ask for identification from those who requested service in order to avoid a fine. Heydi Gonzalez, coordinator of the Nicaraguan Network of the Migration Civil Society, pointed this out and considers that, in the first place, a person cannot be criminalized for being a migrant without legal documentation, and even less, that a fine be assessed to one who provides shelter or transportation, which would be a violation of human rights. The Law, approved in principle and now undergoing study of its specifics, has articles that impose fines and even criminal proceedings against those who provide service to a migrant who is in irregular status, thus, they will be obligated to demand identity and travel documents from aliens. Likewise, Article 153 prohibits the hiring of undocumented workers, or those who, though in legal status, are not authorized to perform work activities. Gonzalez commented that every State has its regulations, and that similar or more stringent criteria of control than those mentioned in the recently approved law exist in the entire Central American region; nevertheless, in Nicaragua, sanctions or fines ought to be imposed only on those who house, transport or hire undocumented aliens when this takes place within the violation of migrant or people trafficking. The representative from the Migrants’ Network set forth, “It would be a dehumanizing law. Let us imagine that a South American, Asian or African victim of people traffickers was abandoned out in the elements, but no one can provide him humanitarian assistance because it’s prohibited by the law. That’s the risk incurred in this type of regulation. It’s obvious that every country has the right to regulate migratory traffic and to establish requirements, but strict migratory policies and expensive procedures compel people to travel without documentation.” She commented that, due to its geographic location, the entire Central American region is the bridge for Africans, Asians and South Americans. Some, especially the Africans, come from countries at war or in terrible humanitarian crisis, people who come seeking refuge. She stated, “If we are asking respect for our detainees in other countries, let us not do the same in Nicaragua. The problem is that the State concerns itself more in controlling and militarizing the border, but does not deal with the humane treatment of persons who, in the majority, move from their country for economic reasons. We have as a starting point that the migrant is not a criminal.” The Immigration and Alien Law has been pending since 2007, and civil organizations pressed for its approval among other pending laws. When news came of its approval in principle, its provisions began to be studied and pertinent observations were made to the deputies, requesting the inclusion of human rights elements in this law. Among these, to acknowledge that an undocumented migrant, although he may not have the right to remain in the country, also has rights. It is also the opinion of the Inter American Human Rights Commission that the labor rights of migrants have to be respected. “Those are elements that we do not see in this proposal, and I’m unable to perceive that they are meeting the obligation of incorporating human rights elements acknowledged by Nicaragua in international forums in the International Convention for the Protection of Human Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families, or the Convention of (the year) 90, ratified by our country in 2005, from which, among other issues, it must present a report of improvements every two years. Something that our government has not done. ——————– La Prensa (Managua, Nicaragua) 6/18/10 Hondurans deported for fishing in Nicaraguan waters The Nicaraguan Navy captured six Honduran fishing boats “in Nicaraguan waters” several days ago in response to complaints by other fishermen of 25 to 30 boats invading their territory. The roundup of illegal fishermen resulted in the deportation of some 10 or more back to Honduras. ——————– El Financiero (Mexico City) 6/18/10 Anti-Mexican climate feared because of Arizona Law Arizona’s law SB 1070 is feared to reflect “a dangerous anti-Mexican climate” that could spread to other states in the US, in the opinion of academic Juan Carlos Calleros of the Valley of Mexico University (UVM) in Mexico City. In an internet conference with students, Calleros commented that the recent cases of two migrants killed at the hands of the Border Patrol are indications of what can foster exacerbated anti-Mexican feelings. He said there is a need to eliminate the anti-Mexican climate that greatly affects Mexicans on both sides of the border. Calleros also urged that the importance of migration be evaluated and consequently bring about reform. ——————– El Universal (Mexico City) 6/18/10 Two arrested in ambush of Federal Police in Michoacán Mexican Federal Police arrested two men presumably linked to the ambush murders of 12 of their fellow officers in Zitacuaro, Michoacán, last Monday. [M3 Report 6/15/10.] The two confessed to their part in the attack and said it was in retaliation for the arrests of members of the criminal organization La Familia Michoacána. According to them, Nazario Moreno, “El Chayo,” one of La Familia’s leaders, ordered the ambush that was organized and carried out by a subject identified only as “El Chuky,” who then enlisted the services of two other gangs headed by “Don Pete” and “La Morsa.” Their plan was carried out by 35 hired guns in 12 vehicles. Describing the attack, a commander in the Federal Police said the caravan followed a gully leading to a highway bridge and took positions to await the police convoy. When it arrived, the hitmen opened their attack with AK-47 assault rifles and fragmentation grenades. In the ensuing battle that lasted 20 to 30 minutes, the 12 federal agents were killed as well as one of the aggressors and several others were wounded. —– Juarez registers 15 mob killings At least 15 people, including two adolescents, were assassinated by gunfire in the past 24 hours in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. In one incident, three were gunned down together. One of them was a 15-year-old. There have been no arrests. —– Europe and US not meeting their responsibilities Contrary to popular belief, the economy of organized crime does not benefit principally in those countries where it operates most freely. The main profits from such businesses go to the first-world nations that are the final destinations of the products and services of the criminal groups. This revelation from the United Nations, is very important for Mexico because it means the responsibility for the cost of fighting crime is not equally shared with those who shed blood and suffer deterioration of their society. The countries that produce the major part of the illegal drugs in the world are those that receive the most attention and criticism, but the profits go to the rich countries that are the recipients of those products, according to a study of global crime. Analysis shows that 70% of the 72 billion dollars generated annually in cocaine traffic stays in the rich countries. Independent of the numbers and percentages, there remain questions that specialists have made: Can there be an armed victory against the cartels when tons of drugs are seized in Mexico, but at the same time, money laundering continues in the US? Can human trafficking for sexual exploitation in Latin America be stopped when, in Europe, the pimps have a thriving business? Obviously not. While the business in those countries continues untouched, traffickers, hired killers and crime bosses will exist. For decades, Europe and the United States have pointed to the corruption in developing countries as the main cause of transnational crime by which they exempt themselves from blame. The case of Mexico and its struggle against narcotraffic makes this unequal relationship most clear. The northern neighbor fails to control the sales of arms that end up in the hands of the cartels; it doesn’t stop the operation of cartels in its border cities and it has done nearly nothing to reduce the drug consumption of its citizens. Why then do the dirty work for the US? The risk is that, facing the innocuous European and US anti-crime fight, the rest of the countries might relinquish combatting the problem. That would be the worst case because it would permit crime to normalize its presence in the “third world.” The developed countries must do much more than they are doing or face the penalty of crime eventually becoming tolerated and normal outside their borders. ——————– El Debate (Sinaloa) 6/18/10 Drug warfare comes to Nayarit An armed confrontation between the Mexican Army and a band of presumed narcotraffickers took place in a small village some eight miles from Tepic, the capital city of Nayarit, resulting in five deaths. One of those killed was a soldier. There were also six soldiers wounded, two of them gravely. During the past week in that area, seven people were found executed. [up until recently, Nayarit has been spared the violence of its neighboring states.] ——————– El Imparcial (Hermosillo, Sonora) 6/18/10 Child migration continues San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora – The director of Integral Family Development (DIF) in Sonora, John Swanson, revealed that more children continue to attempt crossing the border illegally into the US, risking their lives in order to reunite with their families or to seek employment. The trend of child migrants has continued its flow through the Arizona border, particularly in the areas of Nogales, Agua Prieta and San Luis Rio Colorado. In 2009, 7,600 minors, ranging from children to adolescents, were repatriated by DIF, the majority through Nogales. Swanson pointed out the great risk the children run in crossing the border without an adult. ”We have found children who crossed the desert completely alone. Fortunately they have been rescued by the Border Patrol. We receive them here in Sonora and endeavor to reunite them with their families,” he said. The states of Sonora, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Jalisco are the main sources of the migrant children. ——————– El Porvenir (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon) 6/18/10 New record for Nuevo Leon The border state of Nuevo Leon beat its own record for mob killings yesterday (Thursday) with 13 deaths. The state has had continuing turf wars among drug traffickers. Following the murders of nine police officers in a 24 hour period, over 100 officers in security positions have elected not to show up for work in Monterrey and surrounding suburbs. —————— El Sol de Mexico (Mexico City) 6/18/10 Shades of Laker fans Cancun. Quintana Roo – Effusive soccer fans, celebrating Mexico’s victory over France in the World Cup matches, gathered in central Cancun to express their joy by destroying parked cars. Police intervened, firing shots into the air. This caught the celebrators’ attention and ultimately seven of them were arrested before the crowd dispersed. ——————– Sunday 6/20/10 El Financiero (Mexico City) 6/19/10 12 die in gun fights in Tamaulipas Nine attackers and three soldiers were killed in a gun fight along the border with Texas, the Mexican Army reported. The Mexican Defense Department said that a military patrol was attacked near an artificial lake across from Rio Bravo, Texas. The area has been troubled by turf wars between the Gulf cartel and Los Zetas. —– Mayor assassinated An armed group executed the mayor of Guadalupe Distrito Bravo, a suburb of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. The mayor, 48, who lived in Cd. Juarez, was at home when the armed men broke into his house and shot him in front of his family. No arrests have been made ——————- Monday 6/21/10 El Financiero (Mexico City) 6/20/10 Mysterious armed attacks against illegal in southern Arizona Phoenix – Undocumented immigrants and presumed drug traffickers are being attacked by gunfire from unknown assailants in the desert areas of southern Arizona. A series of incidents have the authorities bewildered. The Sheriff’s Department of Santa Cruz County, along the border with Mexico, has reported more than 50 attacks since April, 2008, to date. In these events, some 12 immigrants have received bullet wounds and at least three have died. To the north, in Pinal County, another series of armed incidents have been reported, presumably between undocumenteds or narcotraffickers. Last June 11, two Mexicans, presumed to have been carrying drugs on their backs, were killed by gunfire in an area of Pinal County, some 80 miles from the border. Farther south the same day, a group of five undocumenteds were ambushed by two men dressed in camouflage clothing near the community of Rio Rico, between Nogales and Tucson. The attacks remain a mystery. ——————– -end of report- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
