This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/30/world/americas/navy-officers-killing-escalates-fight-for-mexican-state.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Navy Officer’s Killing Escalates Fight for Mexican State Navy Officer’s Killing Escalates Fight for Mexican State
(about 1 hour later)
MEXICO CITY — Two months after Mexico’s president sent troops to the embattled state of Michoacán, gunmen ambushed and killed one of the Mexican Navy’s most senior officers on Sunday, raising the stakes in a battle for control of an area long considered a volcano of rebellion and violence.MEXICO CITY — Two months after Mexico’s president sent troops to the embattled state of Michoacán, gunmen ambushed and killed one of the Mexican Navy’s most senior officers on Sunday, raising the stakes in a battle for control of an area long considered a volcano of rebellion and violence.
The president, Enrique Peña Nieto, and Jesús Murillo Karam, the attorney general, both pledged on Monday to increase attention in the area where last week armed gangs mounted at least seven separate attacks on the federal authorities, killing four officers in gun battles that also left about 20 gunmen dead.The president, Enrique Peña Nieto, and Jesús Murillo Karam, the attorney general, both pledged on Monday to increase attention in the area where last week armed gangs mounted at least seven separate attacks on the federal authorities, killing four officers in gun battles that also left about 20 gunmen dead.
It was not clear whether Sunday’s attack was a planned assassination. Vice Adm. Carlos Miguel Salazar was killed while traveling with his wife and a handful of guards, including one who was also killed, in a white S.U.V. without military insignia.It was not clear whether Sunday’s attack was a planned assassination. Vice Adm. Carlos Miguel Salazar was killed while traveling with his wife and a handful of guards, including one who was also killed, in a white S.U.V. without military insignia.
But according to experts, his killing is the latest potent example of Michoacán’s unyielding challenge. Mountainous, fertile and never fully controlled by the Aztecs or the Spaniards, it is now an increasingly lawless state where rival gangs are deeply embedded in rural areas, brazen and often tied to armed vigilante groups that have expanded as a challenge to official authority.But according to experts, his killing is the latest potent example of Michoacán’s unyielding challenge. Mountainous, fertile and never fully controlled by the Aztecs or the Spaniards, it is now an increasingly lawless state where rival gangs are deeply embedded in rural areas, brazen and often tied to armed vigilante groups that have expanded as a challenge to official authority.
“What it reflects in a broader sense is the growing complexity of Mexico’s criminal underworld,” said Alejandro Hope, a security analyst and a former Mexican intelligence officer. Whereas spasms of violence in Mexico used to be caused by a few big drug organizations fighting for smuggling routes, now, especially in Michoacán, the motives and number of players has metastasized, he said: “What you have are more groups, more local in their scope.” “What it reflects in a broader sense is the growing complexity of Mexico’s criminal underworld,” said Alejandro Hope, a security analyst and a former Mexican intelligence officer. Whereas spasms of violence in Mexico used to be caused by a few big drug organizations fighting for smuggling routes, now, especially in Michoacán, the motives and number of players have metastasized, he said: “What you have are more groups, more local in their scope.”
For example, much of the violence that first led the government to send in federal troops had nothing to do with drugs. The Knights Templar, an offshoot of the drug organization, La Familia, had been reportedly torching sawmills and killing business-owners and avocado farmers who resisted paying protection money. For example, much of the violence that first led the government to send in federal troops had nothing to do with drugs. The Knights Templar, an offshoot of the drug organization La Familia, had reportedly been setting fire to sawmills and killing business owners and avocado farmers who had resisted paying protection money.
The Knights’ demands, meted out by gunmen in trucks painted with red crosses that reflected the group’s religious self-image, resulted in an expansion of citizen-led security forces. Some were legitimate, residents and experts said, but others received support from a rival to the Knights known as the Nueva Generación or were suspected Knights themselves.The Knights’ demands, meted out by gunmen in trucks painted with red crosses that reflected the group’s religious self-image, resulted in an expansion of citizen-led security forces. Some were legitimate, residents and experts said, but others received support from a rival to the Knights known as the Nueva Generación or were suspected Knights themselves.
At issue for all was who would control the state’s resources — timber, avocados, limes, drugs, a long stretch of Pacific Coast and the roads leading to larger markets, like Mexico City, which is about three hours away from the state capital of Morelia. At issue for all was who would control the state’s resources — timber, avocados, limes, drugs, a long stretch of Pacific Coast and the roads leading to larger markets, like Mexico City, which is about three hours from the state capital, Morelia.
Some security experts say Mr. Peña Nieto underestimated the challenge Michoacán would pose. Mr. Hope said the federal government did not do enough to strengthen the local authorities, especially as a new governor arrived. Some security experts say Mr. Peña Nieto underestimated the challenge Michoacán would pose. Mr. Hope said the federal government had not done enough to strengthen the local authorities, especially as a new governor arrived.
Jorge Chabat, a drug and security expert at CIDE, a Mexico City research group, said the federal government did not send in the troops that were needed to control the area in May.Jorge Chabat, a drug and security expert at CIDE, a Mexico City research group, said the federal government did not send in the troops that were needed to control the area in May.
“The operation was not sufficient, and it was not sufficient because the Knights Templar have much more power than what Peña Nieto’s government had calculated,” Mr. Chabat said.“The operation was not sufficient, and it was not sufficient because the Knights Templar have much more power than what Peña Nieto’s government had calculated,” Mr. Chabat said.
During his campaign last year, Mr. Peña Nieto criticized his predecessor’s use of the military to fight crime. But after the death of Admiral Salazar, many experts predicted Mr. Peña Nieto will have to double-down on the same policy. During his campaign last year, Mr. Peña Nieto criticized his predecessor’s use of the military to fight crime. But after the death of Admiral Salazar, many experts predicted that Mr. Peña Nieto would have to double-down on the same policy.
The terrain and culture of the area make the task especially difficult. With lush land for marijuana growing and a major port, Michoacán has been a precious smuggling hub for years. Its winding roads through thick forests and steep mountains favor local knowledge over military might, while the area’s small towns have long maintained a distrust of government that makes it easier for criminals to claim they are trying to protect their community from outsiders.The terrain and culture of the area make the task especially difficult. With lush land for marijuana growing and a major port, Michoacán has been a precious smuggling hub for years. Its winding roads through thick forests and steep mountains favor local knowledge over military might, while the area’s small towns have long maintained a distrust of government that makes it easier for criminals to claim they are trying to protect their community from outsiders.
The government has yet to explain how it will meet the challenge. On Monday, the attorney general announced that three suspects with the Knights Templar had been arrested and had confessed to being involved in the killing of the vice admiral. He attributed their capture to an alert system that was part of the government’s “distinct strategy for fighting delinquency.”The government has yet to explain how it will meet the challenge. On Monday, the attorney general announced that three suspects with the Knights Templar had been arrested and had confessed to being involved in the killing of the vice admiral. He attributed their capture to an alert system that was part of the government’s “distinct strategy for fighting delinquency.”
But Homero Aridjis, a well-known poet from Michoacán and former Mexican diplomat, said the fog of recent violence had made it only harder for the government, and easier for criminals, who still have little trouble hiding in local communities where neighbors and relatives protect their own. But Homero Aridjis, a poet and former Mexican diplomat from Michoacán, said the fog of recent violence had made it only harder for the government, and easier for criminals, who still have little trouble hiding in local communities where neighbors and relatives protect their own.
“They are very intertwined with the population,” Mr. Aridjis said. “It’s like the Vietcong. It’s very hard to know who is a narco or who is a farmer.”“They are very intertwined with the population,” Mr. Aridjis said. “It’s like the Vietcong. It’s very hard to know who is a narco or who is a farmer.”
Indeed, in a sign of the area’s dizzying uncertainty, the authorities said Admiral Salazar ended up on the dirt road where he was killed only because he was trying to avoid a protest march on the highway. Mexican officials said it was unclear whether those blocking the road wanted more security support from the government or less; whether they were led by frustrated citizens wanting peace, or by locals wanting freedom to do as they pleased. Indeed, in a sign of the area’s dizzying uncertainty, the authorities said Admiral Salazar ended up on the dirt road where he was killed only because he was trying to avoid a protest march on the highway. Mexican officials said it was unclear whether those blocking the road wanted more security support from the government or less, whether they were led by frustrated citizens wanting peace or by locals wanting freedom to do as they pleased.