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Sections of Mexico unsafe for travel, consulate issues warning
Just when we thought it might be safe to travel to Mexico again, more bodies found in mass graves prompt a new travel warning for U.S. citizens and law enforcement. Mexican authorities have charged 14 people in connection with bodies found in newly-discovered mass graves warning us that parts of Mexico are still unsafe for travel.The story starts back to August of last year when bodies were found in mass graves at a ranch in San Fernando, Tamaulipas in Mexico, just 90 miles south of Brownsville, Texas. Buses heading north towards the U.S. were stopped and boarded by gunmen who demanded identification then took Mexican national passengers away. Authorities have not confirmed but believe the intent was to hold them for ransom or use them to smuggle drugs into the U.S. 72 bodies were found then.
Last week, 59 bodies were found on Wednesday then another 13 more bodies were found on Friday at the same ranch. Bus lines followed the lead from cruise lines to cancel routes into the troubled area sparking demonstrations around Mexico. Protesters condemned the drug gangs themselves and the Mexican government's war on drug gangs.
"The investigation is in progress and we must be very careful, especially not to cause alarm among the population that is worried about the whereabouts of their loved ones, but we can deduce that, unfortunately, that they are fellow Mexicans," said Morelos Canseco Gomez, a top security official in the northern state of Tamaulipas reports CNN.
If you have been keeping up with the news you know that Mazatlan, Mexico has been in the spotlight recently as cruise lines stopped calling there over safety concerns. Gadling readers both agree and disagree with the decision by major cruise lines to stop calling in Mazatlan and the general safety level in the country saying:
"The investigation is in progress and we must be very careful, especially not to cause alarm among the population that is worried about the whereabouts of their loved ones, but we can deduce that, unfortunately, that they are fellow Mexicans," said Morelos Canseco Gomez, a top security official in the northern state of Tamaulipas reports CNN.
If you have been keeping up with the news you know that Mazatlan, Mexico has been in the spotlight recently as cruise lines stopped calling there over safety concerns. Gadling readers both agree and disagree with the decision by major cruise lines to stop calling in Mazatlan and the general safety level in the country saying:
"There is no place in Mexico that is safe right now. Death is random as well as directed toward a target. Collateral damage happens anywhere there is some beef between these diablos"
"I'm glad to see some cruise lines are not putting their passengers and crew in harms way by avoiding certain vacation destinations. As tourists we should withhold our travel dollars until safety and security become a necessity and not a luxury."
"Americans are being targeted in Mexico -- and murdered. These murders are occurring in taxis, at airports, and on the streets. Rich Americans are fleeing Mexico for their lives."
"I agree stay the hell away from Mexico...i went there in November and all you do is get hassled to buy stuff...drug...whores...anything"
Here is the travel alert issued late Friday by U.S. consulate officials:
"The United States Consulates General in Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, and Monterrey advise American citizens that the U.S. government has received uncorroborated information that Mexican criminal gangs may intend to attack U.S. law enforcement officers or U.S. citizens in the near future in Tamaulipas, Nuevo León and San Luis Potosi. This information is being distributed to all U.S. government employees in the three states. No other information is available. If more detailed information is developed, we will advise American citizens immediately."
As Mexico's war against drugs continues, look for travel alerts and warnings to continue also. be prepared for transportation companies to cancel routes and itineraries too, also concerned over the safety of their personnel and passengers. How much of that will happen is uncertain, but many agree, Mexico needs to gain control of the situation for the protection of it's citizens and visitors.
"The mass graves found yesterday once again show the Mexican government's failure to deal with the country's public security crisis and reduce criminal violence, which has left many populations vulnerable to attacks, abductions and killings," said Rupert Knox, a researcher on Mexico at Amnesty International told CNN. "All too often, such human rights crimes have gone unpunished, leaving criminal gangs and officials acting in collusion with them free to target vulnerable communities, such as irregular migrants."
Filed under: North America, Mexico, United States, Cruises, Caribbean, Travel Security
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JS Apr 11th 2011 8:05AM
While there is no doubt that the discovery of these bodies was attrocious, this headline and article is confused and misleading.
It suggests that the U.S. government has issued a Travel Warning saying that Mexico is unsafe to travel to. This is plain wrong. You can see the U.S. government's current advice here: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_4755.html
What has been issued is a local Warden's Message, by the U.S. Consulates General in Matamoros, Nuevo Laredo, and Monterrey in Mexico, see: http://matamoros.usconsulate.gov/wm040811.html
They are warning that those specific areas may be unsafe for U.S. law enforcement officers or U.S. citizens, not Mexico as a whole.
Please update the headline and story to be more clear, it is sloppy writing and shows a lack of understanding on the part of the writer.
JS Apr 11th 2011 8:50AM
The photo is also misleading, it is from a military parade, those are not Mexican soldiers on duty. See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eeliuth/4108434858/in/set-72157622812600664
JS Apr 11th 2011 10:59AM
Thank you for changing the headline.
Aleida Apr 11th 2011 8:06PM
That's intense. Tourism brings a lot of money into the country so it's definitely in their best interest to get the situation under control. I can only hope that such events eventually become a thing of the past and that innocent people stop becoming victims.