Kidnappings and violence.. R.I.P.

For more than a decade, the city of Juarez, on the Texas/Mexico border, have been killing fields for young women, the site of over 400 unsolved femicides. Despite the horrific nature of these crimes, authorities at all levels exhibit indifference, and there is strong evidence that some officials may be involved. Impunity and corruption has permitted the criminals, whoever they are, to continue committing these acts, knowing there will be no consequences. A significant number of victims work in the maquiladora sector - sweatshops that produce for export, with 90% destined for the United States. The maquiladoras employ mainly young women, at poverty level wages. In combination with lax environmental regulations and low tariffs under the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Mexico’s crime wave continues, with violent kidnappings for ransom, extortion or worse rising to tsunami levels in greater Mexico City. And while many, in desperate hope for the safe return of kidnapped family members and loved ones meet ransom demands, time and again the victims are found dead, often with clear evidence of torture and abuse before their brutal murders.

Living in the states now, after living in a border town you hear about all these things on television, or hear about it happening to a friend of a friend, and eventually it catches up with you. I am saddned to say that it has once again hit close to home. Living in the United States I feel safe, and it's very easy to forget that all these things are happening everyday and it's happening as I type. A few years ago a very close friend of my family was kidnapped for random, and then killed in a border town in mexico right before christmas, leaving 3 young daughters and her husband. We've had other scares within the family but nothing ever resulted from them thank goodness.

Yesterday night after being out for a few hours, my mom was talking to me about my tio(uncle)chato... who is one of my grandmothers close cousins. His daughters husband was kidnapped in juarez mexico along with a man who claimed to an Interpol commander. Authorities said both men were tortured and suffocated. Their bodies in separate cement-filled drums were delivered to their homes. Apperently is was "a power struggle among the Mexican drug cartels." No I personally didn't know them but I know he left behind 3 kids around my age and younger and a wife who is part of my very large extended family. My Uncle Chato will be here in San Diego sometime later this week, so i guess i will be recieving more information on what happened, and how the family is later this week.

ah... Change is needed.