‘Extortion practices have not stopped,’ warn organizations and business leaders in La Laguna de Durango
The signatory organizations of the “La Laguna de Durango against extortion” banner, a citizen movement that has resonated throughout the country, expressed their profound disagreement and called for a rethinking of the narrative surrounding the recent statements by local representative Octavio Ulises Adame of the Durango Congress.
The legislator stated that “military reinforcement and a search have reduced extortion.” Regarding this, the organizations pointed out that the daily reality on the streets, businesses, and roads of La Laguna de Durango is diametrically opposed.
“Extortion practices have not stopped. We continue to receive calls and messages that threaten our integrity and productive activities. The feeling of vulnerability and powerlessness among citizens and business leaders not only persists, but worsens. A statistical victory cannot be declared when fear remains a constant factor in our daily lives,” they agreed in a statement.
They noted that the presence of federal forces creates a sense of temporary deterrence at specific locations; however, equating this with a comprehensive solution is a serious error and an oversimplification of the problem, as they indicated that the security strategy cannot depend eternally on the federal occupation.
“The real solution requires: a purge of local and state police by applying control and trust tests; financial intelligence to track and block extortionists’ accounts; and effective coordination between the three levels of government to dismantle criminal networks, not just temporarily ward them off,” they stated.
“We demand decisive results. Our action was not a simple outburst of relief: it was a cry for help and a demand for real action. Minimizing the crisis based on recent actions, from which our community is still awaiting results, is ignoring the public outcry. Even when actions bring some progress, a “reduction” in the acts of extortion to which we are subjected, which put thousands of jobs and, therefore, the livelihoods of thousands of Durango families at risk, will not be enough. So that productive activities in this region of Mexico can be carried out safely and freely, we demand the eradication of all extortion practices to which we are subjected daily,” they added in their statement.
They called on the authorities to recognize the seriousness of the problem from the victims’ perspective, stop using isolated data to construct a narrative of success that does not yet exist, and work on a comprehensive, transparent, and measurable strategy that attacks the underlying crime of extortion, and that is clearly communicated to the public.
“We will remain vigilant and maintain our demands. Our movement will not stop until the citizens of La Laguna can live and work in peace, free from the scourge of extortion,” concluded the signatory organizations of the “La Laguna de Durango against Extortion” statement.
Source: elsiglodetorreon
