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April 30, 2013

Mexican Activists Call for Curbs on Flow of U.S. Guns 
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In Mexico, peace activists are calling on the United States to staunch
the flow of assault weapons that are fueling its bloody drug war. More
than 68 percent of weapons recovered by authorities in Mexico have been
traced back to the United States and past estimates have put the number
as high as 90 percent. On Monday, demonstrators launched a motorized
blimp with the hashtag "Goodbye to arms" as they delivered a petition
with more than 18,000 signatures to the U.S. embassy calling for greater
curbs on weapons sales. Among them was Mexican poet Javier Sicilia,
whose son was murdered by drug traffickers.

Javier Sicilia: "If this isn't on the bilateral agenda, if it isn't a
priority, together with the issue of drug regularization, and a serious
policy concerning money laundering, then it won't be possible to end the
horror Mexico is living in."

President Obama is due to visit Mexico on Thursday and Costa Rica on
Friday.

 

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