Mexico: seven members of the same family murdered

Seven members of the same family have been murdered in eastern Mexico, at a time when criticism is increasing against the security policy of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who repeats that violence cannot be fought with violence.

The bodies of three women and four men, including a minor, were found on Sunday in the state of Veracruz (east), one of the most affected by violence, the public prosecutor's office said on Monday.

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The victims

who own a chain of butcher shops, a source from the National Guard, a security force created by President Lopez Obrador after he came to power in 2018, told AFP. Mexico is caught up in violence mainly linked to drug trafficking, which has claimed nearly 340,000 victims since December 2006. Former President Vicente Calderon (2006-2012) then launched an all-out war against drug traffickers, which finally killed them. radicalized and atomized into more armed and more violent cells.

On Saturday, an army officer died during an operation that led to the arrest of three suspected narcos in the state of Sonora (northwest), announced the head of state during his conference of daily Press.

Mexico recorded 12,737 murders between January and May, according to official figures.

," repeated the head of state, who said he wanted to first tackle the causes of violence, namely poverty and unemployment. .

Its

strategy with organized crime was called into question after the assassination of two Jesuits 10 days ago in the mountains of Chihuahua (north).

“How many assassinations in Mexico!”

lamented Pope Francis, himself a Jesuit.

reacted the Episcopal Conference, asking the government to listen to the whole of society (families of victims, police, media, all parties. ..) and to implement a

,” she added.