Mexican Officials Arrest Suspects of Mormon Massacre
Mexico's gunbattle is in the news again after the arrest of suspects in the massacre of members of the Mormon community. It can be recalled in the previous report of Latin Post that the ambush of the LeBarons was said to be as mistaken family members of the rival in the drug cartel. This has shaken the Mormon community who live all across the U.S., because the LeBarons are known as prominent families in the community.
Only days after the ambush, President Donald Trump said that he will designate Mexican Cartel as terrorists which President Lopez Obrador did not agree, Latin Post reports. Obrador gives his signal for cooperation but not for interventionism or invasion. This became the highlight last week as the two countries are scheduled for high-talks bilateral agreement.
Meanwhile, according to the office of Mexico's Attorney general that they have arrested the suspects of the LeBaron massacre which occurred in early November. In an article published in The New York Times, the office of the Attorney General said that the arrest came after efforts made by the joint operation of Mexican armed forces and intelligence agencies who followed the suspects living in Mexico City. Moreover, the identities of the suspects were not given as well as their motivation for the crime.
The arrest of suspects in the LeBaron massacre highlights the political agenda of President Obrador. It can be recalled that Mexico's gunbattle is different in the previous administration. His way of solving problems such as this is "hugs, not bullets". In his first year of office as President, he struggled to solve this problem that includes spiraling violence and immense power of organized groups.
Obrador also changes the strategy of the previous administration in solving the war on drugs by removing the militaries on the street. His way of solving the drug trafficking in the country is by giving programs that will eventually end poverty through social development programs and investments. Before November ends, Obrador announced, as published in Latin Post, that they will enter into Public-Private partnership by spending more than $44 billion in infrastructure to end poverty and economic recession of the country.
During the 1st anniversary of President Obrador which he celebrated at Mexico's City Central Square, he said, "The federal executive has undertaken a paradigm shift in security." Meanwhile, behind the statement of President Obrador around 21 people were killed during a gunbattle between Mexico police and gunmen that includes the death of four policemen.
In a report from a local media in Mexico, demonstrators marched on Sunday asking for better justice and security system among the Mexicans. Julian LeBaron, a relative of the LeBarons who were killed in the massacre, said that "We have to work together to find a way to stop the violence and if we're not capable of defending life in our country, we will never be a civilized country much less a free country."
It can be remembered that the ambush happened on Nov.4 when the family drove the State of Sonora. They were in three cars when they were ambushed by the suspects. Three women and six children died in the said ambush. The first investigation of the Mexican police revealed that the LeBaron family was mistaken as members of the rival family in the drug cartel. On the other hand, Trump said in his twitter account that, "It is now the time for Mexico, with the help of the United States, to wage WAR on the drug cartels and wipe them off the face of the earth."
Meanwhile, Mexicans are split when it comes to the pronouncement of Trump that Mexican cartels will be declared as a terrorist. Some disagreed especially President Obrador and members of his administration while members of the Mormon community are pressing for it. Moreover, Mexican officials are worried about the designation of Mexican cartels as a terrorist to end Mexico's gunbattle because it might open the door to the American military incursions in Mexico.