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MEXICO: Border Patrol Under Fire May 21, 2002; On 21 May, Representative Tom Tancredo (R-Colo) accused the Mex army of staging a "military incursion" on the night of 17 May near near Ajo, in sout Arizona. Immigration and Naturalization spokeswoman Lori Haley confirmed that a incident ended with Mexican soldiers firing shots at a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle. At approximately 20:30 along the Santa Cruz trail inside the Papago Farms border area, just south of Forest Road 21, the US border patrol agent spotted three Mexic soldiers in a Humvee on US soil. The agent was attempting to leave the area "in an to avoid a confrontation" when the rear window of his vehicle was apparently shatt gunfire. Representative Tancredo's website version differed, with one the GS-11 agents out Ajo border patrol station noticing a military helicopter flying south towards Mexico. thereafter, he came upon a humvee. The Associated Press reported Tancredo's clai there were 10 Mexican soldiers five miles inside the US border and more than the B Patrol's rear window damaged. Tancredo said US agents believed that the shots we because Mexican authorities were pursuing drug dealers into the US. On 3 May, Tancredo wrote Mexican President Vicente Fox demanding that he halt "incursions" by Mexican law enforcement officers into the US. Mexican law enforcem has serious internal problems, with significant number of their officers compromise drug dealers. The chief of police in the Mexican border city of Tijuana and about 40 officers were arrested for drug-related corruption on 10 April. Four heavily armed Mexican soldiers were detained when they ventured into the Un States near Tecate, Mexico on the night of 9 March and encountered a Border Patro The soldiers were on a counterdrug mission; all were armed with handguns, three carrying submachine guns and one had an M-16 rifle. A Border Patrol agent tracking footprints found himself face to face with the soldier with an unholstered handgun. The Border Patrol agent unholstered his weapon and identified himself, the Mexicans identified themselves and, upon realizing they had into California, cooperated with the agent. The four were taken to a nearby Border Patrol station and after their unit command the Mexican consulate verified their status, they were returned to Mexico through t Ysidro Port of Entry. There have been other incidents of over-enthusiastic Mexican soldiers. On 14 Marc two Mexican Army Humvees carrying about 16 armed soldiers drove across the international boundary and into the United States near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. According to the National Border Patrol Council (a union representing about 8,300 supervisory Border Patrol personnel), the Mexican vehicles encountered pursued a marked Border Patrol vehicle over a mile into the United States. The lead Mexican vehicle contained nine soldiers "armed with seven automatic assault rifles, one sub gun and two .45 caliber pistols. It was eventually apprehended by other Border Pat units. The second Mexican army Humvee pursued a Border Patrol agent on horseback an shot at him. The soldiers then disembarked their vehicle, fired upon one more Bord Patrol agent and chased another agent before fleeing back to Mexico in their vehicl In November 2000, two border patrolmen who had just disembarked from a clearly Border Patrol helicopter immediately came under fire from a 10-man unit of what a to be soldiers with the Mexican Army. On 24 October, eight shots were fired in Copper Canyon (about eight miles east of Otay Mesa Port of Entry). Once other Border Patrol agents neared the scene, the s retreated towards Mexico and drove off in a minivan. While these incidents are technically a violation of national borders, this is hardly a Max!" situation (a 1969 movie where a Mexican Army unit inadvertently invades Te takes the Alamo). The real danger comes to US Border Patrol agents from trigger-h Mexican troops, whether those soldiers are chasing drug runners or not. Meanwhile, a summer drought has frustrated Texan farmers into raised the stakes international struggle over water flowing through the Rio Grande. About 200 Texas planned to bring tractors and pickup trucks to an international bridge on 23 May to Mexico's overdue promise to allow more Rio Grande water flow into Texas. - Adam Stay tuned. http://www.house.gov/tancredo/ December 9, 2001; Pablo Salazar, the current governor of Chiapas state, urged the Mexican government and Zapatista rebels to “restart” peace talks. Salazar is a mem the PAN Party, like Mexican President Vicente Fox. Here’s Salazar’s telling quote: “T conflict continues to simmer, and in the interest of the entire nation, it should take on the agenda of the political parties.” November 28, 2001; Mexican President Vicente Fox said his government would for special prosecution office to investigate the disappearance of 532 leftists who were arrested by various Mexican security agencies in the 1970s and early 1980s, and t “disappeared.” September 14, 2001; Mexico plans to spend $10 million to improve security on its southern border with Guatemala and Belize. The money will be spent to improve checkpoints and immigration controls in a bid to cut down on the constant flow of i aliens and drugs from Central and South America.--Stephen V Cole August 26, 2001; Mexican President Vicente Fox said his government is investigati 400 people who may be linked to guerrilla groups in Mexico. A Mexican press repor Fox thinks these groups are “extremely violent” and much more dangerous than th Zapatistas (EZLN) of Sub-commandante Marcos. A subsequent report said one of t groups Fox was referring to is the Popular Revolutionary Army (EPR), active in Gue and Oaxaca states. The Armed Revolutionary Forces of the People (FARP), which m Mexican sources suspect is an EPR faction, has claimed responsibility for three hom bombs which exploded August 8 at branches of the Mexican banking consortium Ba Banamex was acquired by a US banking conglomerate. June 15, 2001; Vicente Fox, president of Mexico, and several other Central Americ leaders inaugurated the “Puebla to Panama Plan.” The plan intends to improve transportation links from Mexico to Panama. Ultimately, natural gas, electric, and communications grids will also be improved and linked. In March Mexico entered a trade agreement with El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Mexico also has free arrangements with Nicaragua and Costa Rica. April 20, 2001; Mexico has ordered an EMB-145 Airborne Early Warning aircraft an EMB-145 Maritime Patrol Aircraft from Brazil. The deal is valued at about $240 mill Stephen V Cole March 28, 2001; On March 21, EZLN (Zapatista) leader "Subcommandante Marcos rejected Mexican President Vicente Fox's peace talk overture. Marcos said that the Army had failed to close down military bases in Chiapas. Marcos specifically mentio Mexican army positions around Guadalupe Tepeyac, Rio Euseba and La Garrucha. O March 26, the Mexican government said the army had dismantled the base at Guad Tepeyac. On March 28, Zapatista rebel leaders spoke before the Mexican Congress proposed direct talks with the government. March 21, 2001; Mexican President Vicente Fox said he was eager to meet with Za rebel leaders and pursue talks to insure peace and build democracy. March 11, 2001; The masked Zapatista (EZLN) leader "Subcomandante Marcos" le convoy of rebels and supporters into Mexico City. 150,000 people greeted Marcos i plaza as he appealed for “indigenous rights” in Mexico. 24 other “commanders” accompaned Marcos on a two-week long road trip from Chiapas to Mexico City (du the media a “Zapatour.”). Marcos has been demanding that the Mexican governme an indigenous rights law, based on the San Andres Accords. The San Andres Accor agreed upon in 1996 in peace talks between the EZLN and Mexican government. M President Vicente Fox has already sent the bill to the Mexican legislature. March 7, 2001; The Mexican Navy has ordered two R22 Mariner trainer helicopters Robinson. It has previously ordered one R44 Clipper light helicopter.--Stephen V C January 29 , 2001; Fulfilling a campaign promise, Mexican President Vicente Fox fo new anti-corruption force intended to clean up the Mexican justice and political sy Basically, Fox has stripped the Mexican Interior Ministry of its special police and do surveillance powers. Some police operations will be transferred to a newly created the Public Security Ministry. The new anti-corruption task force will be under the Pu Security Ministry. Ultimately, Fox intends to have a new “National Security Council will scrutinize police operations, and (analysts believe) also vet police leadership. January 11, 2001; President Vicente Fox's peace offensive continues. The Mexican government announced the closure of a third military base in Chiapas state. The ba (apparently a temporary facility) is near a Zapatista outpost. No exact location was December 31, 2001; Mexican President Vicente Fox ordered the closing of a anothe post in Chiapas. This followed the release of 17 Zapatista guerrillas form prison, a Fox promised when he offered to renew peace negotiations with the rebels. The ar was located in Jolnachoj, very near the Zapatista strong hold of Oventic. Local Indi leaders had asked that the base be closed. December 10, 2000; Mexican authorities report a riot in the state of Chiapas. The i occurred in the town of Suchiate, near the Guatemalan border. While only six peop reported injured, reports indicate "several hundred" people participated in the riot. has experienced continual troubles since the Zapatista-led rebellion in 1994. December 5, 2000; Acting immediately after his December 2, inauguration, Mexico President Vicente Fox said he is eager to restart peace talks with the Zapatistias in state. On December 3, Zapatista leader Sub-Commandante Marcos said he would b interested in restarting negotiations. The peace talks have been frozen since 1996. did say he still "distrusts" Fox, meaning he distrusts the intentions of the Mexican government. November 21, 2000; A police raid in the Mexico City suburb of Tepito set off mass On November 16 Mexican police raided a neighborhood, searching for seven trucks carrying stolen merchandise. A riot broke out, with residents carrying firearms. Sev hundred police, operating on foot, in cars, and from helicopters, responded, attemp quell the riot. Mexican press sources reported two-dozen people were injured. By e morning on November 17, the Mexican authorities had deployed 2500 police, 600 p cars, and five helicopters in the area. The initial operation was conducted by the M Attorney General's office. November 17, 2000; The Mexican Navy has ordered a DHC-8 Q200 transport aircra delivery in Sept 2001, with an option for a second aircraft. The aircraft can be conf for various combinations of passengers and cargo.--Stephen V Cole August 19, 2000; On August 18 a series of street clashes took place near Mexico C the town of Chimalhuacan. Apparently two factions of the PRI squared off. 87 peop injured and nine were killed. Around 250 were arrested in the melee. The two PRI were fighting over control of what one wire service report called "garbage dumps a squatters camps" in the area. The groups had helped the local PRI candidate get e mayor and apparently control of the dumps and slums was an expected political pa Some of those killed may have been shot by snipers. We'll watch for more on this o is precisely the kind of embedded political corruption Mexico's President-elect Vicen wants to end. The violence will give the situation in Chimalhuacan a high profile an give Fox a political target of opportunity. July 26, 2000; The Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People (RAFP) claimed respo for an attack on a federal police office outside of Mexico City. One Mexican police o was wounded in the attack. July 25, 2000; The PRD (Democratic Revolution Party, the Mexican left-wing party) that it was interested in a "dialogue" with president-elect Vicente Fox. Fox is a mem the center-right National Action Party (PAN). A functioning PAN-PRD coalition would strengthen chances of genuine reform in Mexico. July 10, 2000; The Mexican Army bought an Mi-26 Halo heavy-lift helicopter from last January, and has now ordered a second aircraft of this type.--Stephen V Cole July 9, 2000; The Mexican Navy has ordered Bofors SAK 57mm L70 Mk3 naval gun Holzinger-2000 patrol boats. These are the only weapons purchased for these boat first two boats were commissioned in 1999, the second pair will be commissioned t year, and two more will be commissioned in each of 2001 and 2002.--Stephen V C July 6, 2000; Watch for more of this. President-elect Fox canceled a post-election t Mexico City as violent clashes occurred in the wake of his election July 2nd. Protest the state of Morelos are alleging ballot fraud in elections for local representatives a mayors. July 4, 2000; The results are in on July 2nd's presidential election. The earthquake happened. Vicente Fox of the PAN pulled nearly 43 percent of the vote in a three-w The PRI's 71-year long grip on power has been broken. June 13, 2000; A warrant was issued for the arrest of Carlos Ibarra Perez, the Mex labor activist and leader of the so-called "Citizen Defense Committee" who offered $10,000 reward to anyone who would kill a US Border Patrol agent. The charge is "provoking a crime" which carries a penalty in Mexico of up to a year in prison. June 12, 2000; Bandidos or revolutionaries? Sometimes it's hard to tell. A Mexican unit, searching for bandits in southern Mexico, was ambushed, leaving seven dead wounded. One of the dead was a state police commander. The attack occurred in t of Chiapas, but a Mexican government spokesman said that they did no believe Za rebels were involved. June 12, 2000; In a recent Pentagon wargame, generals and other participants we stunned by the surprise scenario: Mexico is taken over by drug lords, and two milli refugees stampeded over the border. The generals were dumbstruck. Trained to th terms of military confrontations or peacekeeping overseas, they could not get a gri idea of using the military to control huge crowds of refugees on US soil. After some confusion and fumbling, they came up with a messy solution: Invade Mexico and re the previous government.--Stephen V Cole June 9, 2000; This wild border story begins on June 6 when a news report (TV and newspaper) said that Carlos Ibarra Perze, president of the Citizen's Defense Comm (CDF) in Reynosa, Mexico, had offered a $10,000 "bounty" to anyone killing a US B Patrol officer. Ibarra Perez was quoted as saying it was time to "defend ourselves" attacks by the US Border Patrol. Ibarra Perez said he opposed "attacks" on illegal immigrants in the US. On June 9, 2000; Ibarra Perez denied that he had ever offered a bounty and that t reports were all inaccurate. However, it seems at least 10 reporters (from both the Mexico) heard him make the offer at his June 6 press conference. One wire service says Ibarra Perze called a San Diego, Calif., radio talk show and withdrew the offer air. The FBI and Mexican police are investigating Ibarra Perez. May 31, 2000; Wire services reported that the US Immigration and Naturalization S confirmed that shooting incidents involving the Border Patrol are increasing. 36 Sh incidents occurred in 1998, 26 in 1997, and 20 in 1996. On May 25 the Border Pat a shootout with a drug smuggler who had fired a rifle into an agent's truck near Fa Texas. In mid-May an illegal immigrant got in a fight with a Border Patrol agent ne Brownsville and was killed. The Border Patrol also reports a series of "vigilante-like attacks on Iiegal immigrants in Arizona. Four Mexicans have been shot and killed t since March. April 21, 2000; Mexico's EPR (People's Revolutionary Army) is spawning breakaway including the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People (FARP), the Insurgent Peop Revolutionary Army (ERPI), and the Villist Revolutionary Army of the People (EVRP have launched at least some violent attacks.--Stephen V Cole March 28, 2000; Mexican authorities believe that armed groups may strike targets Mexico City this year. The suspected guerrilla groups: the EPR (Popular Revolutiona Army) and a new organization, the EPRI (Revolutionary Army of Indigenous People 1997 and 1998 the EPR conducted several attacks on Mexican Army detachments i state of Guerrero. A spokesman for what was described as an elite Mexican police Shield Group) said intelligence indicated that strikes could occur in "the Federal District" (Mexico City). March 15, 2000; Nine Mexican soldiers strayed into US territory near Santa Teresa Mexico, and fired at least 2 shots at US border patrol agents. The Mexican soldiers Humvees. One of the Humvees was briefly held by the US agents. Early reports su that the soldiers were merely lost. A Texas newspaper, however, ran a story later i week that said that the possibility existed that the Mexican troops were seeking a b allegedly offered by drug runners. The drug lords would pay a bounty to anyone br them a US border patrol officer or DEA agent. January 17, 2000; Mexico decided on 7 Jan to allow women to serve in the military are barred from combat, cannot be drafted, and are not subject to military disciplin Stephen V Cole December 11; The Mexican Army dismissed 20 soldiers from the 5th Military Distri the US border) for drug use. The soldiers tested positive for drug use after an inve stemming from an October incident in which troops substituted flour for cocaine du public drug-burning ceremony. The troops sold, or in some cases used, the cocaine had been ordered to destroy. --Stephen V Cole October 27; Commandante Antonio, leader of the Rebel People's Revolutionary Arm (ERPI), a faction of the left-wing Popular Revolutionary Army (ERP), was arrested i Federal police raid on a rebel safe house in the city of Chilpancingo. Captured with Commandante Antonio was Comandante Aurora. The federal police conducting the said documents found in the safe house showed that rebels planned to "sabotage" coming Mexican presidential elections next year. The ERPI operates in Guerrero sta fighting cells consists of six to ten guerrillas. There are believed to be at least six a cells in the ERPI. September 14; Jesuit human rights workers said that they have faced numerous d threats for their activates in Mexico. The Jesuits have often criticized the PRI, Mexi ruling party, the Mexican Army, and police forces throughout Mexico. A Jesuit spok said threatening letters were found inside the organizations Mexico City offices, wh indicated that those making the threats could break and enter at will. August 22; The Zapatista rebels claimed that the Mexican Army intends to start off operations in the state of Chiapas. The EZLN (Zapatista National Liberation Army) spokesman identified the community of La Realidad as the likely target. He also cla PRI supported paramilitary groups were active in the area.