MEXICO: Mexico's drug war worries large Mennonite communities in Chihuahua state

Record ID: 302206

  • Title: MEXICO: Mexico's drug war worries large Mennonite communities in Chihuahua state
  • Date: 25th January 2009
  • Summary: WOMEN SITTING (Spanish) MUNICIPAL PRESIDENT OF CUAUHTEMOC CITY, GERMAN HERNANDEZ, SAYING: "They (Mennonites) have had problems of kidnappings. There were two kidnappings in the Mennonite community during 2008 and also home robberies at night." VARIOUS OF MENNONITES WALKING ALONG STREETS IN CUAUHTEMOC CITY
  • Embargoed: 9th February 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Reuters ID: LVA7Y4UHQRAIOR4JIIWVNZ3FFDIB
  • Story Text: Large Mennonite colonies in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua live in fear over crime wave affecting the region The crime wave in Mexico unleashed by drug gangs is now impacting large Mennonite colonies in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua.
    Many Mennonite families - who trace their roots to the 16th century Anabaptists and are named after Menno Simons, a 16th century Dutch Anabaptist leader - have started to fear for their lives and welfare.
    The Mennonite colony was established in Mexico at the beginning of the 1920s after migrating from Canada. Persecuted by laws in Manitoba forcing them learn English, in 1921 they reached an agreement with the Mexican government - who vowed to respect their customs - to buy thousands of hectares in the municipality of Cuauhtemoc City and founding a colony of about 9,000.
    But a wave of murders and kidnappings that has killed 1,600 people in the state of Chihuahua alone last year, have started to affect the peace of mind of a large Mennonite community based in the municipality of Cuauhtemoc City.
    Some 40,000 have settled here and are involved in dairy farming, agriculture, commerce and industry.
    Two large Mennonite communities called "Manitoba" and "Swift Current," farm about 50,000 hectares of land and harvest corn, beans and oats. The largest dairy farm called "Dos Lagunas,"
    produces 70 tonnes of cheese on a daily basis, according to an economy local government representative from the municipality of Cuauhtemoc City.
    The thriving businesses are located on either side of a commercial strip stretching about 40 kms (24 miles) on both sides of a highway.
    The head of one of the largest colonies called "Manitoba" - accounting for one third of the total colony - Franz Heinz, said people are worried about crime.

    "But now lately there have been kidnappings, robberies and killings and that has worried some people," Heinz said.
    Representatives of the Mennonite communities told Reuters Television about 10 families have left the country due to the insecurity and said there were three kidnappings cases last year. But most of all they are afraid of break-ins at night. More could sell up and head back towards the U.S. and Canada if the situation does not improve.

    "Of course there have been many Mennonites who have left.
    Companies have shut down due to the insecurity here in the state. Something that is quite common at Mennonite farms is the kidnapping of Mennonite businessmen," said Marina Carrasco, a dairy farm worker.

    "There are a lot of families who have spoken about this. If the security issue is not resolved, a more secure place will have to be found," added Heinz.
    A group of about eight unknown armed gunmen burgled at least 10 homes last year. Most victims were not been physically harmed but others were badly beaten around the face and tied to chairs in front of their children.
    Mennonite community members also told Reuters the government had not arrested, charged or found anyone for questioning in connection to these crimes.
    In addition, there have been about 15-20 cases of families driving from one colony to the other along the highway who have been stopped at gun point by armed group of men.

    "They (Mennonites) have had problems of kidnappings. There were two kidnappings in the Mennonite community during 2008 and also home robberies at night," said the Municipal President of Cuauhtemoc City, German Hernandez.
    The vicious drug war killed 5,700 people in the whole country last year and forced the United States to give hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Mexican government.
    Ciudad Juarez has been rocked by gun battles and beheadings by rival gangs fighting over smuggling routes into Texas, despite the presence of around 3,000 troops and federal police.
    The peaceful and deeply religious Mennonites also live in other Mexican states such as Zacatecas, Durango and Campeche and Quintana Roo and have also migrated to South American countries such as Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina
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