02/07/2011—Over the past three years, Zacatecas has been transformed into an area in connection with organized criminal groups and their ground transportation up to the north of the country.During these three years, the state of Zacatecas has also been undergoing analysis of criminal activity in the region. The state of Zacatecas borders Aguascalientes, Jalisco, Durango, Coahuila, and San Luis Potosi- all of which foster criminal groups. Earlier this year, General Jesus Pinto, Secretary of Public Security, had acknowledged that the “first analysis had only detected the presence of a “strong group” known as Los Zetas.” Within the next month of this statement, the state attorney, Arturo Nahle Garcia, considered the “new wave of violence” especially in the south of the state near Jalisco and Aquascalientes meant that there was more than one major operating group in the state, meaning that Los Zetas were not the only criminal group in the state.
Due to numerous kidnappings and disappearances of people, the rural population in Zacatecas has tried to step up and demand action from their local government, although any action from the government has yet to occur. Along with rural uprising, the Zacatecas population has utilized social networks to organize protests and demonstrations. Octavio Sergio Contreras, a researcher in Communication from La Salle University, stated that “it is a citizen movement that was created from a collective fear from a criminal act that occured February 1st that disrupted a civil society and made them feel hostage to the fighting and drug blocks.” At one protest many people held signs displaying messages such as “We want peace and security for our children,” and “We want a future.”
Sources:
Mejia, Irma. ” Zacatecanos exigen paz ante creciente violencia.” El Universal. 07 Febrero, 2011.
