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Some call for paramilitary groups to crack down on Juarez violence

by ANGELA KOCHERGA / KVUE News

Posted on November 20, 2009 at 7:41 PM

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In the violent border city of Juarez, some favor using paramilitary forces to crackdown on the criminals, amid growing concerns about death squads.

Deadly scenes play out daily in Juarez.  Recently, two state police officers gunned down at a gas station.

A gas station employee says…if it happened to them and they're police that can we expect? 

“We see it is getting worse day by day, so right now people are willing to try anything, and they don't care about the consequences in a few years in the future as long as they deal with the problem right now,” said Oscar Maynez, Juarez criminologist.

So if police can't protect the people of Juarez, who will?   A local newspaper survey indicates nearly half of the people of the city approve of using paramilitary groups to crack down on the criminals.  Some call them vigilantes, others call them death squads.

“There's no way we can accept that. There's no example yet. So we have to keep working on that,” said Soledad Maynez, Maquiladora Association president.

Juarez business leaders say they're working with authorities to improve security as countless businesses cope with kidnappings and extortion.

Hundreds of businesses have given up and shut down. 

As the sense of lawlessness grows, so does the concern some may take the law into their own hands.
 

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imthmom said on November 20, 2009 at 9:44 PM

"So if police can't protect the people of Juarez, who will? Lord ....don't tell me its another thing Americans will have to foot the bill for. Mexico has a President. ....let him figure it out. Who was it...Mrs. Brisco or Mrs. Johnson....one of their husbands refused to meet with the Mexican President. I forget????