ArdraF
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2006
- Posts
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The Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008 Las Vegas Review Journal had a headline that caught my eye: "Mexico's Drug Violence Spreads to Tourist Areas." It began with this line, "The sickening discovery of 11 headless bodies, heaped like broken dolls near the colonial city of Merida, underscored a bitter lesson Friday for Mexico: The battle to control the multibillion-dollar drug trade knows no boundaries." It says the bodies are piling up nationwide. Merida is near the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza where many of us have traveled. In a seven-day period ending Friday, more than 130 people died violently throughout the country. The Yucatan actually had 12 of these after another decapitated body was found later. On the same day the headless bodies were found in Merida, gunmen stormed a house in Guerrero and killed two women and two girls, 8 and 12. On Wednesday in the state of Guanajuato, four gunmen and two soldiers died in an armed battle. On Tuesday four decapitated bodies were found in Tijuana. More were found in Sinaloa and Durango. Earlier this month 13 people were killed at a family gathering in Creel where the Copper Canyon train travels. Nationwide 71 police officers were killed during the month of August.
Folks, as much as we have enjoyed Mexico in the past, I don't believe it's wise to go there now. If you do go to Mexico in spite of the increasing violence - in a country that forbids guns - please at least check the U.S. State Deparment travel warnings so you are aware of problem areas. It's Aug. 8, 2008 page on Mexico says:
"Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of the country, urban and rural. Visitors to the U.S.-Mexico border region, including cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales, Matamoros, and Monterrey should remain alert and be aware of their surroundings at all times. In its efforts to combat violence, the Government of Mexico has deployed military troops in various parts of the country. Military checkpoints increased in border areas in early 2008. U.S. citizens are advised to cooperate with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways. Sporadic outbursts of politically motivated violence occur from time to time in certain areas of the country, particularly in the southern states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca....
Chiapas: The Department of State recommends U.S. citizens traveling to the southern state of Chiapas remain cautious at all times. Armed rebels and armed civilian groups are present in some areas of the state, and there is often no effective law enforcement or police protection. Violent criminal gang activity along the state?s southern border ? mostly aimed at illegal migrants ? continues to be a concern. U.S. citizens traveling to Chiapas are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for further security information prior to traveling to the region."
ArdraF
Folks, as much as we have enjoyed Mexico in the past, I don't believe it's wise to go there now. If you do go to Mexico in spite of the increasing violence - in a country that forbids guns - please at least check the U.S. State Deparment travel warnings so you are aware of problem areas. It's Aug. 8, 2008 page on Mexico says:
"Violence by criminal elements affects many parts of the country, urban and rural. Visitors to the U.S.-Mexico border region, including cities such as Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales, Matamoros, and Monterrey should remain alert and be aware of their surroundings at all times. In its efforts to combat violence, the Government of Mexico has deployed military troops in various parts of the country. Military checkpoints increased in border areas in early 2008. U.S. citizens are advised to cooperate with official checkpoints when traveling on Mexican highways. Sporadic outbursts of politically motivated violence occur from time to time in certain areas of the country, particularly in the southern states of Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca....
Chiapas: The Department of State recommends U.S. citizens traveling to the southern state of Chiapas remain cautious at all times. Armed rebels and armed civilian groups are present in some areas of the state, and there is often no effective law enforcement or police protection. Violent criminal gang activity along the state?s southern border ? mostly aimed at illegal migrants ? continues to be a concern. U.S. citizens traveling to Chiapas are encouraged to contact the U.S. Embassy for further security information prior to traveling to the region."
ArdraF