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Monday, February 09, 2015

Borderland Beat

Borderland Beat

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Juárez: Gunmen attack party killing 5 injuring 4

Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:21 AM PST

Lucio using material from Diario Chihuahua and Reforma

Violence exploded in Juarez, Chihuahua Saturday, reminiscent of the violence that plagued the city in the years of 2008-2012, during the conflict between the Sinaloa and Juárez cartels. At that time, homicide rates escalated to the point of making Ciudad Juárez the most violent city in the world.

Five people killed and at least four injured in an attack carried out by an armed group of subjects who violently disrupted a gathering just before midnight Saturday, at a home in colonia Felipe Ángeles.

The attack happened on Tabascos Street near the corner with Norzagaray at 11:45 in the evening.


Neighbors of the sector reported the party was held in honor of the wife of the owner of the house.   There were 30 attendees, including men, women and children.

The owner of the home is one of those reported killed.  He is a businessman, who owns and operates a tortilla factory and an awnings business.

Four of the bodies were at the exterior of the home, 1 deceased person inside, along with 4 persons with multiple gunshot wounds.

The five bodies were left on the curb of the street Tabascos.

The gunmen arrived in 2 vehicles, and used Molotov cocktails to set vehicles on fire at the residence before fleeing.  The attack lasted approximately 20 minutes.

Community Police Rescue 10 of the Kidnapped in Cocula

Posted: 09 Feb 2015 02:36 AM PST



Photo by: Ezequiel Flores


Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat


Community Police from the towns of Nuevo Balsas, La Fundición and Real del Limón freed 10 of the 18 people kidnapped two days ago by a gang in the service of La Familia.

Six of the victims, among them a contractor and a mining cleaner from the mine Media Luna, were abandoned on a hill by their captors who were in the presence of a siege by the community policemen who acted in coordination with the Mexican Army and the Federal Police.

The other four hostages escaped after one of them began to struggle with one of the criminals.

The victim, identified as Mario Bahena Aguilar, originally from Apipilulco and a mine worker, was injured after being shot in the leg and one of the criminals was beaten to death, three of the men who escaped reported to Proceso.

"Mario saved our lives," said one of the hostages when he was safe with a group of Community Police, who went up to the hill of La Campana to rescue the wounded hero.



The 10 victims were safeguarded by the community policemen and one of the criminals, who tried to pass himself off as a hostage, was arrested.

The woman and nine men were transferred to a health clinic in the community where they were attended to because they had received blows and were suffering from exhaustion due to dehydration.

The injured man was taken to a specialty hospital aboard an army helicopter.

Accompanied by members of the Mexican Army, the villagers deployed along the banks of the river and in the hills in order to locate the other victims (of which there is no certain number) since they were deprived of their freedom in different parts of the mining area and separated into several groups as indicated by the hostages.

According to the version of the victims, the kidnappers who were wearing military-style uniforms and are being led by a criminal identified as Uriel Wences Delgado "La Burra",an operator of the criminal group La Familia who was expelled by the Community Guard since December 2013 when the inhabitants decided to take up arms to confront crime, are still in the hills and have more people held hostage.

The mass kidnapping occurred Friday afternoon in the mining area of Cocula.  The federal government and management of the Media Luna mine tried to minimize and outright deny any events happening despite the public denunciation of the inhabitants and the Community Police.

Among the victims are mine workers, fishermen, and members of the Community Police.

Source:Proceso

U.S. Grants political asylum to the son of slain activist Marisela Escobedo

Posted: 09 Feb 2015 02:36 AM PST

Lucio with material from SinEmbargo as posted by Bjeff
                                                          Son and mother in protest

Four years after his activist mother was gunned down in front of the Governors 
palace, Juan Frayre Escobedo is granted political asylum

An United States immigration judge granted political asylum to Juan Manuel Frayre Escobedo, son of slain activist Marisela Escobedo Ortiz, who was assassinated in 2010, outside the Governors Palace of Chihuahua.  Marisela was protesting in  Plaza Hidalgo, demanding justice into the investigation of the murder of her daughter Ruby. 

In a telephone interview from San Antonio where he resides Juan said; "I feel happy and comfortable that it could solve my legal status in this country. It has been long wait for the courts to make a decision. With laws in this country you never can be sure until you get the answer." 

He stated he received the notice a couple of days ago. 

"I was told that my case had been resolved in my favor and that the Government of the United States gave me the granted my request in October 2012," he declared. 

The 36-page document, which contained the applicant's testimony and evidence, was reviewed by the Immigration Judge Craig A. Harlow, who determined that there was sufficient evidence. 

He said it now expects his brother Alexander and his uncles Ricardo and Hector Escobedo, the same fate in his trial before the Court. 

"For now we must continue to support my family and 'Mexicans in Exile', an organization that supported me, they help new immigrants who lack the resources and provide legal advice, said Juan. 

On May 3, 2012, the US granted asylum to his niece, his murdered sister's daughter, Heidi Ruby, she was four years old at the time. After Ruby's murder, Heidi was being raised by Marisela until her murder, Marisela's brother fled for safety, to the U.S. with the child and his family after Marisela's death.


                                                      Juan leans onto his mother's casket

Regarding the case of his mother said still in the "air". "There is nothing clear and the government's position is the same. A government that does not speak the truth and who is not willing to give a solution," he said. 

He added that violence in Mexico will not stop while the government continues collusion with criminal groups. 


He said the threats continue against people who get up and point out the injustices through similar situations as those undertaken by his family. 

"Although the government gives positive statistics and ensures that things are changing, there is continued aggression against the people. The persecution, and threats will not stop, "said the son of activist. 


As an example, he mentioned the recent case of journalist Villeda Moses Rodriguez, as he took refuge in El Paso last January 4, for fear of losing his life. 

Meanwhile, Frayre attorney, Carlos Spector, was satisfied with the resolution and said it will continue in his line of defense and look for the safety of their clients who flee their country due to the violence they suffer. 


"Bjeff" collected these links to posts detailing the backstory.  Readers will remember the recent posts about "El Wicked" the murderer of Marisela.  He was recently killed in his prison cell.


BB Articles on Marisela Escobedo:
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2010/12/mysterious-death-of-marisela-escobedo.html
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2010/12/activist-rubis-mom-killed-in-chihuahua.html
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2012/11/marisela-escpbedo-this-one-is-for-you.html
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2012/10/wicked-didnt-kill-my-mother-it-was-andy.html
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2014/12/el-wicked-killer-of-activist-dead-in.html
http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2012/10/el-wicked-confesses-to-killing-marisela.html

Coahuila Eltie police groups denounced for forced disappearances and torture

Posted: 09 Feb 2015 03:25 AM PST


Elite police Groups created by the government of the state of Coahuila, have participated in human rights violations, such as enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and torture, denounced the civil association group Familias Unidas.

Denise Bosque, legal representative of families of the victims said the association has documented 150 cases of enforced disappearance in the town of Piedras Negras, in the region of Cinco Manantiales (Five Springs).

According to reports, in about 60 cases, the agents involved were from Grupo de Armas and Tactical Especiales (Special Weapons Tactical Group) (GATE) and other security groups, which were created during the administrations of Humberto and Ruben Moreira.

In 51 cases, it was found that victims were tortured into making false confessions,  who then were wrongly convicted and currently imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

The GATE and  GROM, Grupo de Reacción Operativa Metropolitana  (Metropolitan Reaction Group) (GROM) were created in 2009 when Humberto Moreira announced the creation of elite groups to combat insecurity.


In one case, was Victor Manuel Rivas Guajardo, who was taken from his home by elements of GATE
in 2013; to date his whereabouts are unknown.

Meanwhile, the association added that these police groups do not keep records of arrests made, so that the families of those involved cannot prove any violation of human rights.

Both GATE and the GROM operate under the support of the authorities, as they have done nothing to address the demands of the people. 

"The state justifies the creation of GATE for actions against organized crime, but they are fighting crime with worse crimes," Bosque said.

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