WE TOLD YOU EARLIER THIS MONTH OF REPORTS THAT MEXICAN SOLDIERS KILLED SIX MIGRANTS WHEN THEY OPENED FIRE ON A PICKUP TRUCK CARRYING 33 MIGRANTS NEAR THE GUATEMALAN BORDER.
THE SHOOTING HAPPENED THE NIGHT OF OCTOBER 1ST. MEXICAN SOLDIERS CLAIMED THEY OPENED FIRE AFTER HEARING A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS AND SHOTS COMING FROM THE TRUCK. THEY ALSO SAID THE VEHICLE CARRYING THE MIGRANTS WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED, ATTEMPTING TO EVADE PATROL.
NOW REUTERS REPORTS THEY SPOKE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO CAST DOUBT ON THAT ACCOUNT INCREASING SCRUTINY ON MEXICO’S SECURITY CRISIS.
THREE RESIDENTS TOLD THE OUTLET THEY DIDN’T HEAR EXPLOSIONS ONLY THE VEHICLE CRASHING AND GUNSHOTS.
THEY ALSO WERE CONFUSED OVER CLAIMS THAT THE SOLDIERS MISTOOK THE MIGRANTS FOR CARTEL MEMBERS CONSIDERING THEY COULD HEAR THE CRIES OF YOUNG CHILDREN.
A POLICE OFFICER – WHO SCOPED OUT THE SCENE ALSO SAID THE MILITARY’S USE OF FORCE APPEARED EXCESSIVE.
MEXICO’S NEW PRESIDENT, CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, HAS NOT GIVEN MUCH DETAIL ABOUT HER IMMIGRATION POLICY, HOWEVER, THE LOCAL RESIDENTS FEEL THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS UNDER PRESSURE TO RELIEVE THE MIGRANT CRISIS AFFECTING THE U-S SOUTHERN BORDER IN RECENT YEARS.
MEXICO’S MINISTRY OF DEFENSE SAID THE TWO SOLDIERS WHO OPENED FIRE WERE RELIEVED OF DUTY, DETAINED AND WILL BE TRIED UNDER MILITARY LAWS.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS CONDEMNED THE SHOOTING AND SAID MEXICO’S PROCESS FOR TRYING MILITARY MEMBERS LACKS TRANSPARENCY.