Presence stepped up, but progress may prove difficult
Mexico's military influx leaves a city on edge
By Ramon Bracamontes / El Paso Times
Posted: 03/03/2009 12:00:00 AM MST

JUAREZ -- Army vehicles carrying five or six masked soldiers travel in pairs in the city across from El Paso. In the downtown tourist district, Juarenses are greeted by dozens of Mexican soldiers and federal police officers in SWAT gear. More soldiers are stationed on rooftops.

On Monday, the day after the Mexican government announced that 3,200 more soldiers had arrived, Juárez was visibly different from a month ago. But while the Army and police presence was obvious with more than 8,000 soldiers and law enforcement officers on the streets, their effectiveness remained in question.

"I hope things get better, but I think they are going to get worse," said Sergio Lozano Renteria, 37, a Juárez native. "I haven't seen the army make a difference. Things are getting worse every day, and every day more and more people get killed."

So far in 2009, more than 300 homicides have been committed in Juárez, including nine last weekend. In 2008, about 1,600 people died violently. Decapitated bodies, executions and midday ambushes on busy streets became everyday occurrences.

Juárez officials take some comfort in saying that what is happening in their city is no different from what is happening throughout Mexico. But residents and business owners are frustrated.

A citizens' group has threatened to step in and kill a criminal a day. Various residents have moved to El Paso. Some small business owners have shut down their shops, and others have armed themselves.

"It's what you have to do," said the owner of a small fruit stand, who did not want to give his name or have his picture taken. "We close before it gets dark, and we have to protect ourselves because you don't know who is who and who is going to help you or rob you. If things don't change, I think you will see every citizen carrying a gun soon."

Enrique Torres, the spokesman for Joint Operation Chihuahua, the federal government's initiative to battle the drug cartels, said the wave of new soldiers is part of an overall plan to regain the trust of the 1.7 million residents of Juárez.

Without getting into specifics, Torres said one of the obvious changes is that the latest platoons of soldiers are dressed in new uniforms. This will make it easier for residents to distinguish between Mexican soldiers and the cartel's commandos, who dress in military fatigues and are to blame for the ambushes and executions.



read the rest here: http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_11823037

why can't people post short threads??? you people are making me read on my day off....i need a drink