Oxxo convenience stores attacked in central Mexico
A series of Oxxo convenience stores have been attacked in central Mexico, authorities said on Monday, a sign that strikes targeting businesses may be spreading nearer to the capital.
There were reports that as many as nine stores belonging to Mexico's largest convenience store chain, operated by Femsa , were attacked late on Sunday night, authorities in Hidalgo state and the state of Mexico said.
Femsa said three of its Oxxo stores were set on fire and two were attacked by gunmen. Some employees suffered burns but none were seriously hurt, Femsa said in a statement.
The company said it was investigating whether there is any connection between the gun attacks and the fires.
The State of Mexico surrounds most of Mexico City and borders Hidalgo to the north, and local state prosecutors said the attacks appeared coordinated, echoing recent assaults against businesses in the state of Michoacan in western Mexico.
Michoacan, which shares a border with the State of Mexico, has been shaken by fighting between a violent drug gang and heavily-armed vigilante groups, presenting a major security challenge to President Enrique Pena Nieto.
A Hidalgo state official said one store in Tula, just over an hour from Mexico City, was set on fire, apparently with Molotov cocktails. There was a similar incident at a store in Tizayuca, involving the same kind of homemade device, he said.
Five more stores were attacked in Hidalgo but it was not clear if similar devices were used there, the official said.
Two more attacks on Oxxo stores were reported in the State of Mexico, prosecutors said. Femsa confirmed those attacks.
Femsa runs Latin America's biggest Coke bottler, Coca-Cola Femsa, in a joint venture with The Coca-Cola Co. Oxxo sells Coke and other bottled drinks as well as snacks and cigarettes, among other items. Some of the stores are open 24 hours.
In Michoacan, large areas of which have been under the control of the Knights Templar drug cartel, a number of installations operated by Mexico's state-run electricity company were attacked in October, temporarily knocking out power for hundreds of thousands of people.
Two years ago in Michoacan, officials arrested members of the Knights Templar after a string of arson attacks on trucks distributing PepsiCo snack products that was apparently part of an extortion effort.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/20/mexico-femsa-attacks-idUSL2N0KU0WT20140120
A series of Oxxo convenience stores have been attacked in central Mexico, authorities said on Monday, a sign that strikes targeting businesses may be spreading nearer to the capital.
There were reports that as many as nine stores belonging to Mexico's largest convenience store chain, operated by Femsa , were attacked late on Sunday night, authorities in Hidalgo state and the state of Mexico said.
Femsa said three of its Oxxo stores were set on fire and two were attacked by gunmen. Some employees suffered burns but none were seriously hurt, Femsa said in a statement.
The company said it was investigating whether there is any connection between the gun attacks and the fires.
The State of Mexico surrounds most of Mexico City and borders Hidalgo to the north, and local state prosecutors said the attacks appeared coordinated, echoing recent assaults against businesses in the state of Michoacan in western Mexico.
Michoacan, which shares a border with the State of Mexico, has been shaken by fighting between a violent drug gang and heavily-armed vigilante groups, presenting a major security challenge to President Enrique Pena Nieto.
A Hidalgo state official said one store in Tula, just over an hour from Mexico City, was set on fire, apparently with Molotov cocktails. There was a similar incident at a store in Tizayuca, involving the same kind of homemade device, he said.
Five more stores were attacked in Hidalgo but it was not clear if similar devices were used there, the official said.
Two more attacks on Oxxo stores were reported in the State of Mexico, prosecutors said. Femsa confirmed those attacks.
Femsa runs Latin America's biggest Coke bottler, Coca-Cola Femsa, in a joint venture with The Coca-Cola Co. Oxxo sells Coke and other bottled drinks as well as snacks and cigarettes, among other items. Some of the stores are open 24 hours.
In Michoacan, large areas of which have been under the control of the Knights Templar drug cartel, a number of installations operated by Mexico's state-run electricity company were attacked in October, temporarily knocking out power for hundreds of thousands of people.
Two years ago in Michoacan, officials arrested members of the Knights Templar after a string of arson attacks on trucks distributing PepsiCo snack products that was apparently part of an extortion effort.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/20/mexico-femsa-attacks-idUSL2N0KU0WT20140120
Senators to meet in Michoacán
Senators belonging to the National Action Party (PAN) will hold their plenary session in Michoacán during the last three days of January, parliamentary coordinator Jorge Luis Preciado announced during a Sunday press conference.
According to Preciado, the decision to hold the upcoming planning sessions in Michoacán was made so that the parties could learn firsthand about the problems generated by the conflict between drug traffickers, federal forces and self-defense groups.
He added that there are no plans by PAN senators - all of whom have confirmed their attendance - to seek the protection of federal forces for their visit to the embattled state, where they will decide on the party’s agenda during the ordinary legislative sessions beginning in February.
Preciado said that, during the plenary session, the PAN’s legislators will ask Alfredo Castillo, director of the newly-created Michoacán Security and Comprehensive Development Commission, to explain the federal government’s strategy to establish peace and stability, because Castillo’s appointment by the federal government removes powers from the state government, which Preciado said has legal consequences.
“We’re going to invite (Castillo) to our plenary session so that he can discuss with us the comprehensive strategy that the federal government is implementing,” he said.
He went on to say that his party will propose a reform to Article 76 of the Mexican Constitution so that the consequences of the formal declaration of a power vacuum in a state - which the PAN has pushed for in Michoacán - would include the creation of a governing council proposed by the federal government and approved by the Senate.
Currently, the formal declaration of a power vacuum triggers new local elections.
http://www.thenews.com.mx/index.php/mexico-articulos/17909-senators-to-meet-in-michoacan
Senators belonging to the National Action Party (PAN) will hold their plenary session in Michoacán during the last three days of January, parliamentary coordinator Jorge Luis Preciado announced during a Sunday press conference.
According to Preciado, the decision to hold the upcoming planning sessions in Michoacán was made so that the parties could learn firsthand about the problems generated by the conflict between drug traffickers, federal forces and self-defense groups.
He added that there are no plans by PAN senators - all of whom have confirmed their attendance - to seek the protection of federal forces for their visit to the embattled state, where they will decide on the party’s agenda during the ordinary legislative sessions beginning in February.
Preciado said that, during the plenary session, the PAN’s legislators will ask Alfredo Castillo, director of the newly-created Michoacán Security and Comprehensive Development Commission, to explain the federal government’s strategy to establish peace and stability, because Castillo’s appointment by the federal government removes powers from the state government, which Preciado said has legal consequences.
“We’re going to invite (Castillo) to our plenary session so that he can discuss with us the comprehensive strategy that the federal government is implementing,” he said.
He went on to say that his party will propose a reform to Article 76 of the Mexican Constitution so that the consequences of the formal declaration of a power vacuum in a state - which the PAN has pushed for in Michoacán - would include the creation of a governing council proposed by the federal government and approved by the Senate.
Currently, the formal declaration of a power vacuum triggers new local elections.
http://www.thenews.com.mx/index.php/mexico-articulos/17909-senators-to-meet-in-michoacan
2 children, 3 adults found shot to death in restive Michoacan state in western Mexico
State police say the 1-month-old, a 2-year-old and three adults found Monday all had been shot. None have been identified.
Police say the bodies were found near the town of Susupuato, which is in on the opposite side of Michoacan from the area where vigilante groups have been fighting against the Knights Templar drug cartel.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/0...-death-in-restive-michoacan-state-in-western/
State police say the 1-month-old, a 2-year-old and three adults found Monday all had been shot. None have been identified.
Police say the bodies were found near the town of Susupuato, which is in on the opposite side of Michoacan from the area where vigilante groups have been fighting against the Knights Templar drug cartel.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/0...-death-in-restive-michoacan-state-in-western/
Mexican tacticool operator.
Hey, it probably helps shade the scope, and it's stylish in a psycho-surreal kind of way.
