Dear Editor,
I refer to your editorial ‘The Monterrey massacre,‘ published on September 2, 2011.
Indeed, the terrible arson attack that occurred in the city of Monterrey, Mexico, on August 25, has been an act of barbarity, perpetrated by unscrupulous criminals, resulting in the death of over 50 innocent persons. The Mexican Government has vigorously condemned these atrocious crimes, as have governments of peace-loving countries, such as Guyana.
Indeed, the transformation of the national and international drug markets, the greater availability of illegal arms, and the neglect suffered in the past by local justice and security institutions, were all factors that worked together for years and led to the expansion and diversification of the activities perpetrated by criminal organizations in Mexico, generating violent rivalry between them.
Nevertheless, the Mexican Government has been struggling for the past five years to overcome this situation and achieve a safe community for all Mexicans.
Neither the government nor the society can afford to abandon the challenge and the obligation to defend Mexicans from crimes, such as the Monterrey event. One day after the unpardonable attack, President Felipe Calderon announced that the Mexican Government would deploy all the legal, institutional and economic resources within its reach to investigate who were the individuals responsible for these acts and make them pay for their crime. Such investigations have already led to the capture of five criminals involved in the arson attack, as well as to the identification of the mastermind behind the crime, who is expected to be captured soon.
From the end of 2006 to today, important milestones have been achieved in terms of national security, against all drug cartels that pursue illegal activities in Mexico.
In 2009, the Attorney General of Mexico published a list of 37 most-wanted criminals in our country and, as of today, 21 of them have already been captured and brought to justice. In addition, over 900 kidnapping
crime groups have been dismantled, and more than 6000 alleged kidnappers have been arrested. Furthermore, hundreds of tons of drugs which include nearly 109,000 kilos of cocaine have been destroyed and over 750 thousand weapons have been confiscated.
Today, Mexico stands wounded and sorrowful for the despicable attack in Monterrey. We must transform those wounds and sorrow into resolution and courage to tackle the criminals as a single, united people. We will continue fighting against crime, with a national strategy based on human rights and law, which has already achieved significant milestones.
As opposed to what your editorial implies, the current situation in Mexico is that of a country with the firm determination, from both government and society, to fight with all their resources, corruption and crime, deeply convinced that law, justice and order will prevail.
Yours faithfully,
Fernando Sandoval
Ambassador of Mexico
