Besieged by guns, drugs and crime, Mexico President Calderón

has a message for the people of the United States - and he has

put it on a huge sign within sight of the U.S. border.

 

 

El Universal, Mexico

President Calderon Implores the U.S.: 'No More Weapons!'

 

"We Mexicans have asked for this in many ways and many tones of voice. Today, our presence here, in this mournful Ciudad Juárez, demands that we make a new and respectful call to the government, Congress and people of the United States. We need their help to stop this violence. … That is why we say: no more weapons to Mexico, no more weapons!"

 

-- Mexico President Felipe Calderón

 

By Jorge Ramos

 

Translated By Halszka Czarnocka

 

February 17, 2012

 

Mexico - El Universal - Original Article (Spanish)

Jose Antonio Torres Marrufo, aka 'Marrufo': The suspected leader of 'Gente Nueva', an armed wing of the Sinaloa Cartel situated in the border city of Ciudad Juarez, is presented to the press after his arrest, Feb. 4.

 

teleSur, VENEZUELA: Mexico arrests leader of La Familia drug cartel, Jan. 16, 00:00:56RealVideo

Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua: One hundred sixty five yards from the border, President Felipe Calderón unveiled a spectacular new sign. Positioned so it can be read from U.S. territory, and constructed by the military out of three tons of weapons seized from criminals, the sign demands: "No more weapons!” Calderón himself called for "no more weapons,” and in English he asserted: "Mexico needs your help ... no more weapons to Mexico.” It is the same call he made in the Capitol, the seat of the U.S. Congress, and on visits to the American Union. But now his call is in form of a sign that is 26 feet by 72 feet. "Brilliant!" exclaimed Margarita Zavala, the president's wife. Everybody rushed to take a picture with the sign behind them.

 

Facing the United States and with the sign in the background, Calderón launched a new appeal: "We Mexicans have asked for this in many ways and many tones of voice. Today, our presence here, in this mournful Ciudad Juárez, demands that we make a new and respectful call to the government, Congress and people of the United States. We need their help to stop this violence.”

 

In our neighboring country, guns can be purchased "several meters from here,” indiscriminately and with the same ease as one buys a toolbox.

 

He raised more than a dramatic cut the consumption of drugs and the flow of money. "Beyond the drug issue, the best way for you, the American people, to help reduce violence in Mexico is through legislation that used to be in force (the ban on assault weapons expired in 2004), and by stopping the inhumane trafficking of weapons into our country. That is why we say: no more weapons to Mexico, no more weapons!” the president stressed.

 

"Powerful entrenched interests, particularly in the arms industry, which dominate public opinion and the Congress of the United States, prevented the re-introduction of the needed ban on the sale of assault and high-powered weapons. This has allowed criminals easy access to the rifles, machine guns, grenades and rocket-propelled grenade launchers with which they wage war on the Army, and which they haven't hesitated to use against innocent, unarmed civilians. It is completely unjust, it is offensive that lives are lost because of this market, whose only reason to be is profit and the out-of-hand greed of that industry, which doesn't care very much for human life."

 

He added that during his six years in office, "an entire arsenal of war” has been confiscated: 140,000 weapons that could have supplied the armies of Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras combined. Our message to criminals is clear: "We will oppose you and confiscate your weapons.”  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:
El Universal, Mexico: President Calderon Implores U.S.: 'No More Weapons!'
La Jornada, Mexico: Mexico Drug Violence: 'Business is Business'
Semana, Colombia: By Opposing U.S. on Drugs, President Santos Shows 'Guts'
El Universal, Mexico: Mexicans Must Face the Truth: We are at War
La Jornada, Mexico: U.S. Finally Admits to Infiltration By Drug Cartels
La Jornada, Mexico: Rejecting U.S. Drug War is Essential for Mexico's Survival
La Jornada, Mexico: An Open Letter to Obama: Learn Your History, Sir!
La Jornada, Mexico: Mexico: The Birthplace of U.S. Interventionism
La Jornada, Mexico: 'Happy Talk' Hides U.S. Encroachment on Mexico
La Jornada, Mexico: Senators and U.S. Drones: What Else are They Hiding?
La Jornada, Mexico: U.S. Consulate Deaths are No More Tragic than Our Own
La Jornada, Mexico: U.S. 'No Help' in Combating Drug Mafias
El Universal, Mexico: Hypocrite on Drugs, Obama Must 'Clean Own House'
El Heraldo, Honduras: Drug Busts in U.S. Belie the True Danger …
La Jornada, Mexico: Calderon's Bush-Style Militarization of Mexican Politics
Excelsior, Mexico: Mexico Needs 'Deeds, Not Words' From Obama White House
El Universal , Mexico: How Mexico Could Legalize Pot - Whether U.S. Likes it or Not
Excelsior, Mexico: As Blood Flows, U.S. Gets Serious About the Battle for Mexico
Excelsior, Mexico: Relations Between U.S. and Mexico are Deteriorating
La Tercera, Chile Mexico's Drug War: No Way Out But to Fight On
Semana, Colombia: Michael Phelps and American Hypocricy on the Use of Drugs

 

 

The 14 million rounds of ammunition and 11,000 grenades seized during his term in office is 36 times more than was seized during the previous two presidential terms. The unbounded greed of the U.S. weapons industry seems to suggest a lack of concern for the cost in human lives, Calderón repeated.

 

While acknowledging U.S. President Barack Obama's actions, such as the requirement of checks on gun buyers in border states, he considers them insufficient.

 

Upon arriving in Ciudad Juárez, Calderón presided over the destruction of thousands of weapons, cartridges and magazines.

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US Feb. 17, 3:55pm]

 







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