MEXICO: Thousands participate in convoy to Chihuahua demand peace from drug violence

Record ID: 304102

  • Title: MEXICO: Thousands participate in convoy to Chihuahua demand peace from drug violence
  • Date: 10th June 2011
  • Summary: CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (JUNE 9, 2011) (REUTERS) MEMBERS OF PEACE CONVOY WALKING DOWN STREET PROTESTERS CARRYING CUT-OUT FIGURES OF BODIES AT CRIME SCENES CARAVAN WITH PHOTOS OF DRUG WAR VICTIMS MEXICAN POET JAVIER SICILIA WALKING WITH RELATIVES DURING MARCH EXTERIOR OF GOVERNMENT BUILDING WOMAN HOLDING UP BANNER THAT READS: "Missing, since when? Until when? Stop these injustices with good men" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RELATIVE OF VICTIM OF DRUG VIOLENCE, YOLANDA IBARRA, SAYING: "Yes, I believe it can help as a consolation. Where people who suffer unite the way so many Mexicans are suffering I think unity is very consoling." PHOTO OF DRUG VIOLENCE VICTIM PROTEST PARTICIPANTS WITH SICILIA MORE OF PICTURES OF DRUG WAR VICTIMS PROTEST PARTICIPANTS ADDRESSING MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RELATIVE OF VICTIM OF DRUG VIOLENCE LILIANA ARIZMEDI SAYING: "The anguish because of those shootouts at dawn. Having to run and living with fear. We are fed up with all those actions! With the lack of authority and government. We are tired of not being heard." SICILIA LOOKING ON MORE OF PROTEST PARTICIPANT ADDRESSING MEETING POLICE SEALING OFF CRIME SCENE VARIOUS OF BULLET RIDDEN CAR WINDSCREEN SHOP FRONT WINDOW WITH BULLET HOLES GENERAL VIEW OF CRIME SCENE
  • Embargoed: 25th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico, Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Reuters ID: LVAAHX1FV69IIL1FU3BS2MGR4EPE
  • Story Text: Mexican poet-turned-activist Javier Sicilia's peace convoy travelled through the northern state of Chihuahua on Thursday (June 09) en route to the country's most dangerous city, Ciudad Juarez, demanding an end to drug-related bloodshed.
    Activists, academics, journalists, artists, immigrants, members of social organizations and relatives of victims of the violence made up the 14 buses and more than 30 cars in the convoy in its nearly 3000-kilometre (1800-mile) procession.
    The week-long convoy has crossed 12 Mexican states, inviting people from across the country to join the movement as it made its way up north.
    People carried banners with photos of victims that read: "Missing, since when? Until when? Stop these injustices with good men."
    A relative of a drug violence victim, Yolanda Ibarra, said taking part in the caravan was a consolation.
    "Yes, I believe it can help as a consolation. Where people who suffer unite the way so many Mexicans are suffering I think unity is very consoling," she said.
    Another relative of a drug violence victim, Liliana Arizmedi, passionately addressed the meeting.
    "The anguish because of those shootouts at dawn. Having to run and living with fear. We are fed up with all those actions! With the lack of authority and government. We are tired of not being heard."
    Hundreds are expected to welcome the convoy as it reaches drug capital Ciudad Juarez.
    The 'Caravan for Peace' convoy began about 45 miles from Mexico City in the tourist city of Cuernavaca, which has been rocked by drug-related violence and where, in March, suspected hitmen killed the son of the famous poet.
    After the murder, Sicilia slammed the government's campaign to break the drug cartels and launched a campaign to end the relentless violence. In May, he led tens of thousands of people in a march on Mexico City against the relentless killings in one of the biggest demonstrations of its kind in years.
    Sicilia will formally launch a pact for peace between citizens, government officials and politicians at Mexico's most violent drug war city on the U.S. border.
    Nearly 40,000 people have died nationally since late 2006. The military-led crackdown has led to the killing and capture of dozens of drug kingpins but the bloodletting has hurt Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Mexico risks losing control of large areas to drug cartels near the Mexican border.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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