Proceso: Translated by un vato for Borderland Beat
Doctors are under fire in Tamaulipas and Coahuila. The following two stories illustrate the extreme conditions under which they perform their duties.
Killers pick up and murder a doctor because she treated a member of a rival cartel
CIUDAD VICTORIA, Tamaulipas (proceso.com.mx)(2-12-2013).-- Gunmen with an organized crime group kidnapped and murdered Erika Sanchez Marroquin, presumably because she treated a wounded man from a rival cartel that went to a clinic in the Abasolo, Tamaulipas, municipality, an official source revealed today.
The body of the doctor was found at approximately 10:00 a.m. in Abasolo, located more than 60 miles from this capital city, the source specified.
Sanchez Marroquin was "picked up" ("levantada") yesterday afternoon by armed men at a regional clinic located in the Morelos Ejido at Abasolo.
The doctors from the clinic stated that the female doctor had treated a wounded man who went to the clinic, and who apparently belongs to a local cartel.
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They also denounced that they have been threatened against treating members of that group.
The harassment that doctors in the northeast part of the country suffer from organized crime has been reported since October 2012 in the city of Monterrey.
In an unprecedented act, approximately 100 doctors from different hospitals and health centers, wearing white gowns and face masks, marched through downtown streets on October 20 that year.
The health workers gathered in the downtown Colegio Civil Plaza, and marched from that point to the Explanada de los Heroes, in front of the Government Palace, guarded at all times by police officers with the Civil Forces (Fuerza Civil) of Nuevo Leon, who were carrying rifles.
Attacks on the medical sector have increased since 2012, and range from crimes such as assaults, death threats, motor vehicle theft, to kidnapping, said the regional delegate from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS: Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social), Jorge Luis Hinojos.
Physicians from Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas and Coahuila have complained anonymously that organized crime groups kidnap them and hold them captive to force them to treat members of their organizations who are wounded in confrontations.
Doctors and nurses are kidnapped after a shootout in Monclova
MEXICO, D.F. (apro)(2-14-2013).-- Yesterday, the State of Coahuila lived through one of the most violent days this year, with shootouts between suspected criminals and security forces, the alleged kidnapping of doctors and nurses from a hospital, attacks against Mexican Navy personnel, and an attacks using explosives in the Monclova men's prison.
According to Coahuila press reports, the wave of violence began yesterday afternoon with a confrontation between suspected gunmen and State and Federal police officers in the city of Monclova, leaving one civilian dead and two more under arrest.
The shooting started when armed civilians attempted to evade a road block located in the Brisas sector and opened fire against the uniformed personnel, who retaliated against the assault....continues
In the exchange of gunfire, which forced businesses in the area to close their shops, one of the suspected criminals lost his life. The suspect was traveling in his car with two other persons. In his attempt to flee, the vehicle crashed against a parked pickup truck.
The uniformed personnel detained two suspects and seized drugs, a firearm, an ammunition magazine, four cartridges and 38,000 pesos (about $3,000.00) cash.
According to local news sources, other suspected gunmen wounded in the incident had kidnapped doctors and nurses from the Monclova General Hospital to get (medical) treatment.
State authorities have not said anything about this latter allegation.
According to unofficial sources, the attack took place at 5:30 p.m. in Blvd. Nazario Ortiz Garza and Abasolo, which triggered a Code Red alarm.
Despite that, when they got to the location, state authorities stated that noting had happened, and, in fact, deactivated the Code Red.
However, Marine personnel were seen guarding the hospital where their wounded fellow (Marine) was taken.
The violent day culminated with the attack against the Saltillo men's prison (Cereso Varonil de Saltillo), where suspects in an automobile threw an explosive device at the prison.
Apparently, there were no casualties. State authorities maintained complete silence on this incident.