Relatives of youths killed in a recent massacre interrupted and jeered Mexican President Felipe Calderon as he promised on Thursday night to spend more on social programs to curb runaway drug gang violence in the border city of Ciudad Juarez.
“If you had a son killed, you would have looked for the murderer even under rocks, but I don’t have the resources,” a sobbing Luz Davila, whose two teenage sons were among 15 killed in the Jan. 31 attack, told Calderon.
Inside a convention center, Calderon said the government would invest in sports centers for youths, more schools and daycare centers and provide financial aid to 25,000 families living in poverty. He was widely criticized for not visiting Ciudad Juarez sooner after the massacre, in which gunmen burst into a party and opened fire with automatic weapons.
Many of the victims were teens with no known criminal ties and the attack outraged even hardened residents of Juarez.
Police have arrested two men for the attack. One of them told investigators that drug cartel gunmen went to the neighborhood looking for a member of a rival gang, but that once they arrived they were ordered to kill everyone.
Those listening on Thursday demanded the president do more to stop the wave of violence that killed more than 2,300 people last year.
The bloodshed has made the city of 1.3 million people across the border from El Paso, Texas, one of the world’s deadliest metropolises.
Outside the meeting, police dragged away dozens of demonstrators demanding that Calderon resign. The protesters held signs reading “Calderon out.” Police forced them across the street, shoving them through muddy puddles.
Calderon also met privately with relatives of some of the youths killed in the massacre and apologized for initially saying the attack was a result of a fight between rival drug gangs.
“Whatever may have been the meaning of my words, I offered the parents my most heartfelt apology if any of my words offended them or the memory of their children,” Calderon said afterwards.
When Calderon referred to the apology at the public meeting, a group of women stood up and turned their backs to the president.
Human rights activists at the meeting demanded the army leave Juarez, saying soldiers have abused their power and gone after scapegoats, but Calderon said he won’t withdraw troops despite criticism that their presence has exacerbated violence.
“If I were certain that withdrawing the Mexican army would end the violence in Juarez, be sure that I would do it, but I’m afraid the opposite would happen,” Calderon said.
Calderon has deployed 5,500 soldiers to Ciudad Juarez in an attempt to try to stop vicious gangs battling for drug-dealing turf and lucrative trafficking routes into the US, but violent crime has surged.
The president said that 400 federal agents would focus on investigating kidnappings and extortion in the city.
Businessman Manuel Ortega said thousands of Juarez businesses have closed because of extortion.
“Juarez won’t be able to stand another year like last year,” Ortega said.
Calderon urged Ciudad Juarez residents to let him know of ways to improve on his proposal and said he would return next week.
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