Gold Mines Bringing in Prosperity, But Also Deadly Gang Wars in Southern Mexico Agence France-Presse
go to original November 28, 2015

Wrapped in a purple plastic cover, villagers in the Mexican village of Carrizalillo unearthed a hip bone and the skeletal remains of an arm and fingers, the latest clandestine grave to be discovered in the country's gang-war plagued South. This was the fifth such grave and eighth human remains to be found since October, adding to the sense of insecurity among villagers.

The problem is occurring near a Canadian owned gold mine, which has brought in money, but also deadly shootings, kidnappings and extortion rackets. The mine, operated by Canada's Goldcorp, has its gates guarded by police. Operational since 2007, it employs 2,600 people from surrounding communities, producing more than 250,000 ounces of gold last year.

Residents blame the mayhem on the Guerreros Unidos, a gang engaged in turf wars in the region against rival Los Rojos. And, this is not the only town to have endured violence after a company dug for gold. A two-hour drive away is the fishing town of Nuevo Balsas, which saw shootings and kidnappings surge after another Canadian mining firm, Torex, discovered a gold deposit in 2012.

Nelson Figueroa, the town's top elected official, said he reported the latest grave to federal investigators, but was told they were short-staffed. The site was not cordoned off when AFP journalists visited last Friday. A week later, investigators still haven't arrived, said the 34-year-old Figueroa. The attorney general's office did not respond to requests for comment.

Locals felt safe while troops patrolled the village for two weeks this month. Now that they're gone, Figueroa said, "There's fear that people will come back to kill villagers."

Read the rest at PuneMirror

Photo: RT.com

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