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Teachers become Mexico gangs' latest targets; Next (?) Mx's Truck Drivers Bound For US()
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don Gabacho
Sep 9, 2011, 5:24:27 PM9/9/11
to
Teachers become Mexico gangs' latest targets
By DUDLEY ALTHAUS, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Updated 11:47 p.m., Thursday, September 8, 2011
A child looks at a sign reading, "There are no classes until new
notice" at one of 80 public schools that were closed in Acapulco after
the threats. Photo: Staff, PEDRO PARDO / AFP
MEXICO CITY - Fewer people every day are spared the gangland violence
besieging Mexico and now even poorly paid educators - charged with the
tenuous future of the country's children - find themselves in
corruption's cross hairs.
Hundreds of teachers stayed off the job in the troubled Pacific beach
resort of Acapulco this week after receiving extortion demands and
death threats circulated via handouts and the internet. Teachers
earning more than $175 a week were warned to cough up 50 percent of
their salaries and bonuses beginning Oct. 1 or face the consequences.
'Chance to leave'
"Those who don't agree have the chance to leave," explained a note
sent to a finance officer of the local school district, which ordered
a detailed list of teachers and their salaries. "If they don't, they
know we're not fooling around.
"Advise the principals that we are aware of the high charges they ask
of parents," the note said. "They will receive a special visit."
The note was not signed, but widely assumed to be from local gangsters
who are warring for control of illegal drug sales, smuggling and other
criminal rackets in Acapulco.
The walkout shut down at least 53 elementary schools and threatened to
close hundreds more in and near Acapulco. Most of the schools reopened
Wednesday after state and federal officials vowed to provide adequate
security.
"The schools have returned to normal," Jesus Nava, a spokesman for the
Guerrero state government, said by phone Wednesday.
Guerrero Gov. Angel Aguirre vowed in announcing the enhanced security
Tuesday that "the teaching community, the students and their parents
can be assured that the vigilance operations will be working at all
times."
It remains to be seen if more police and army patrols will quash the
extortion attempts. But the Acapulco walkout was but the latest
incident involving threats to children.
Duck and cover drills
Schools in many cities and towns where the violence is greatest
routinely drill young pupils on how to duck and cover should gunfire
erupt. A Monterrey teacher gained international fame last spring when
she kept her kindergartners calm by singing to them as a battle raged
just outside the school.
Several mothers were shot and wounded last month as they waited for
children to leave a grade school in Ciudad Juarez. Gunmen had chased a
target who tried to find refuge at the school, spraying him and others
nearby.
Two weeks ago, warnings circulated via Twitter, text messages and
Facebook that gangsters planned to attack schools, sending panicked
parents pull their children from class in the port of Veracruz.
Prosecutors have charged two people with "terrorism" for sending the
warnings on Twitter.
Most of the targeted Acapulco schools are located in the poor and
crowded back side of Acapulco, over the mountains from the once-
popular beaches and tourist hotels. Gang warfare this year has killed
hundreds of people in those neighborhoods.
Though notoriously low-paid, the teachers now join countless
businesses as extortion targets of the gangs. Amid President Felipe
Calderon's 5-year-old criminal crackdown, the gangsters have
diversified beyond drug trafficking into an array of cash-generating
enterprises.
By DUDLEY ALTHAUS, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Updated 11:47 p.m., Thursday, September 8, 2011
A child looks at a sign reading, "There are no classes until new
notice" at one of 80 public schools that were closed in Acapulco after
the threats. Photo: Staff, PEDRO PARDO / AFP
MEXICO CITY - Fewer people every day are spared the gangland violence
besieging Mexico and now even poorly paid educators - charged with the
tenuous future of the country's children - find themselves in
corruption's cross hairs.
Hundreds of teachers stayed off the job in the troubled Pacific beach
resort of Acapulco this week after receiving extortion demands and
death threats circulated via handouts and the internet. Teachers
earning more than $175 a week were warned to cough up 50 percent of
their salaries and bonuses beginning Oct. 1 or face the consequences.
'Chance to leave'
"Those who don't agree have the chance to leave," explained a note
sent to a finance officer of the local school district, which ordered
a detailed list of teachers and their salaries. "If they don't, they
know we're not fooling around.
"Advise the principals that we are aware of the high charges they ask
of parents," the note said. "They will receive a special visit."
The note was not signed, but widely assumed to be from local gangsters
who are warring for control of illegal drug sales, smuggling and other
criminal rackets in Acapulco.
The walkout shut down at least 53 elementary schools and threatened to
close hundreds more in and near Acapulco. Most of the schools reopened
Wednesday after state and federal officials vowed to provide adequate
security.
"The schools have returned to normal," Jesus Nava, a spokesman for the
Guerrero state government, said by phone Wednesday.
Guerrero Gov. Angel Aguirre vowed in announcing the enhanced security
Tuesday that "the teaching community, the students and their parents
can be assured that the vigilance operations will be working at all
times."
It remains to be seen if more police and army patrols will quash the
extortion attempts. But the Acapulco walkout was but the latest
incident involving threats to children.
Duck and cover drills
Schools in many cities and towns where the violence is greatest
routinely drill young pupils on how to duck and cover should gunfire
erupt. A Monterrey teacher gained international fame last spring when
she kept her kindergartners calm by singing to them as a battle raged
just outside the school.
Several mothers were shot and wounded last month as they waited for
children to leave a grade school in Ciudad Juarez. Gunmen had chased a
target who tried to find refuge at the school, spraying him and others
nearby.
Two weeks ago, warnings circulated via Twitter, text messages and
Facebook that gangsters planned to attack schools, sending panicked
parents pull their children from class in the port of Veracruz.
Prosecutors have charged two people with "terrorism" for sending the
warnings on Twitter.
Most of the targeted Acapulco schools are located in the poor and
crowded back side of Acapulco, over the mountains from the once-
popular beaches and tourist hotels. Gang warfare this year has killed
hundreds of people in those neighborhoods.
Though notoriously low-paid, the teachers now join countless
businesses as extortion targets of the gangs. Amid President Felipe
Calderon's 5-year-old criminal crackdown, the gangsters have
diversified beyond drug trafficking into an array of cash-generating
enterprises.
Bill Graham
Sep 10, 2011, 1:26:24 AM9/10/11
to
doesn't. And you expect some crooked bunch of gang members to be able to do
it? - Give me a break!
Steve from Colorado
Sep 10, 2011, 2:10:23 PM9/10/11
to
demanding "rent" from street vendors and merchants on threat of death.
Steve from Colorado
Sep 10, 2011, 2:13:55 PM9/10/11
to
has a "good" track record of making sure they collect taxes from
citizens. (Maybe not illegal aliens).
Bill Graham
Sep 11, 2011, 5:32:38 PM9/11/11
to
Not in my experience they don't. (have a good track record of
collecting....) What they do is harrass the hell out of old ladies why can't
remember from whom they got what..... The drug loards in Mexico aren't going
to be able to remember either. And/or they won't know whether someone paid,
or wheather one of the collecters pocketed the money and just said that
someone didn't pay. After all, they are the face and the definition of
corruption, so what can you expect?
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