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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Vigilantism In Mexico |
| 2009-10-29 |
| The torture video of the five alleged house burglars was posted on the internet last week. It is the latest sign of brutal vigilante justice spreading across Mexico. As kidnappings, muggings and car jackings spiral out of control, and the authorities appear increasingly impotent, shadowy groups have been advocating justice by the sword. In other recent cases, alleged kidnappers and car thieves have been abducted and murdered and had their corpses dumped in public places along with threatening notes. There are also rising cases of mobs lynching alleged thieves and leaving them beaten, naked and tied up. “The government is failing to provide security and people are turning to some brutal alternatives,” said Rossana Reguillo, who studies crime and violence at the Jesuit University of Guadalajara. “This is not something that has always been around in Mexico. It is a new phenomenon that has been growing since 2000.” |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #6 I still think most of these extrajudicial killings are part of the Mexican Drug War. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2009-10-29 12:18 |
| #5 Sometimes this sort of thing may be Drug Gangs taking out independent criminals or making hits look like independents. I wouldn't be so sure violent guys are being abducted and murdered by an unarmed population. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2009-10-29 09:32 |
| #4 Happens when the 'justice' system forgets why it exists and becomes enamored with its own rituals and procedures [and self importance]. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-10-29 08:26 |
| #3 Good for them. Unfortunate that they find it necessary, but fortunate that they have the courage. |
| Posted by: Whiskey Mike 2009-10-29 06:21 |
| #2 Badges? We don't got to show you no stinkin' badges! |
| Posted by: borgboy 2009-10-29 03:59 |
| #1 Well, what did they expect would happen? Citizens rise up to defend themselves. And unsurprisingly this gets more press than the criminals. |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-10-29 00:17 |