Osario Chong visits the U.S. says Tamaulipas violence has declined

Lucio R Borderland Beat from Proceso

The real truth from Tamps newspaper of today "Reynosa suffers violence without end"
Just one of the cities in the state suffering from great violence

Despite more than a dozen shootings and clashes in recent days between criminal, federal police and soldiers in Tamaulipas, Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, head of Interior Ministry he said that in that state violence has decreased. 

"In Tamaulipas we  have made very important advances to ensure peace and security," or so, Osorio Chong bragged during a press conference with Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security United States.

The constant confrontations in Tamaulipas, especially in Reynosa, seem to go unnoticed for those in charge of the country's security in the government of Enrique Peña Nieto.

"They have reduced violence,  ... we believe that our strategy is working well and we will go ahead and move ahead to restore calm to various states of the Republic," Osorio Chong, boasted after making a visit to Washington to meet with Johnson.

Just a few days ago in Reynosa,  SEDESO's  Jose Antonio Meade was on tour with Governor Egidio Torre, in various colonias ,  when a clash erupted  between criminals and federal elements that killed at least a dozen and paralyzed the city for several hours.

"In Tamaulipas, of the 15 priority objectives of criminals, all have been arrested in recent months ... I want to tell you that is not the same violence happening in  Tamaulipas, as  what happened a few years ago. Today the difference is important, fragmentation is the biggest problem, but undoubtedly we are on track to fix it., " The Interior Secretary lies like a rug  said.

Questioned by Proceso about the recent incidents of violence, which contrasts with his observations that the clashes were declining, Osorio Chong was a little more restrained in his statements.

"I think things are quieter, they have been changing, and I want to reiterate this is from data figures manipulated by the government. There is a profound change. I can back up what I say. The commission of crimes are down,  "said Osorio Chong.

The charge of internal government policy of Peña Nieto admitted that the solution to the violence in states like Tamaulipas "is not a matter of two years." He stressed that it is "a matter of much more", because it had been an accumulating decay.

"On the issue of security in this state and in others we had had to go in and conduct order, restore peace, security and we will continue on this path, "he said.

Bilateral Agenda

In the press conference after their meeting, the two ministers said they discussed important issues of bilateral agenda due to them as border security, immigration, and trade.

"The relationship between the two countries has never been better, we continue to build bridges," said Johnson.

Secretary of Homeland Security asked whether he had information about the statements published  by the British newspaper The Guardian of Rosa Isela Guzman, the supposed daughter of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman Loera, about her “father” who she claims had  entered the U.S. on at least two occasions in recent months.

Johnson replied that "he had heard the allegation" but he had nothing to discuss with respect to the story.  He also asked about whether the government of Mexico officially complained to the U.S. about the allegation, and about the participation of agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the second capture of El Chapo Guzman,  February 2014 in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, where US agents , together with colleagues from the DEA and the US Marshall would dressed in the uniform of the Navy of Mexico (Marina) to capture the drug kingpin.

"I do not comment on any operation of our federal agencies, I would say that cooperation between our two governments in the area of ​​law enforcement is robust and highly collaborative," Johnson interrupted.

Pressured by the response of his US counterpart, by  his not confirming nor denying the remark, Osorio Chong interjected "there was no participation" by American in those actions.