On May 5, 2009, 14 people were arrested in Cuernavaca for having cartel connections. Included in the capture were Salomón Pineda Bermúdez, 73, and Leonor Villa Ortoño, aged 59, the parents of one of the Beltran Leyva Cartel’s key operational leaders,“El Borrado”.

It seems within the last few months, various sons, brothers, aunts, and uncles have been arrested within the Beltran Leyva cartel, apparently the arrest of El Borrado’s parents, along with two of his aunts, aged 57 and 70, was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Ever since, narco banners adressed directly to President Felipe Calderon, with warnings such as You don’t play around with family, have been showing up mysteriously across the nation on different buildings, overpasses, bridges, and Churches.

Mr. President: Felipe Calderon Hinojosa:
We are conscious of our acts, what we are not in agreeance with is the act of authorites involving our parents, brothers, and other family members. It is a global rule, that has existed in all times: The Family is untouchable, off limits.

We would like to ask about Genaro Garcia Luna, Cardnas Palomino, Armando Espino Benedito and all the others who participate in the daily abuse and arbitraries that are made against the majority of Mexican citizens: Should their families be found guilty of their acts, should they, too, have to pay?

We hope that you open your eyes to the type of people you have in charge in public offices. We (cartel memebers) never commit unjust acts and we have never broken our codes: Family is sacred and to always be respected:-

Translation of narco banners appearing across the nation

Under normal circumstances, I would agree wholeheartedly; family members should not be held accountable for ones individual actions, but I have a huge problem with narcos demanding respect, claiming never to be injust, and declaring they have never broken the almighty family is sacred code. I have an even bigger problem when the family members in question, were actually found sitting on an arsenal of weapons and cash, manage and organize the cartel’s gatherings, and help seek out,corrupt, and pay off state and government authorities.

Talking about trafficking itself and or living off the profits of one members involvement, how is that considered innocent? Just because a wife, aunt, or brother doesn’t actually make the billion dollar trafficking contacts or pull the trigger absolves them of all associated charges?

Just the pure and simple act of trafficking goes against their code. What do they think they are doing when they sell drugs? I’ve seen overdosed teens and crazed junkies killing for a fix, children left orphaned and wives left widowed; where’s the sacred family law there? What about the cartels use of kidnapping, extortion, torture, mutilations, and decapitations. Is that deemed respectful and just in their eyes? Do they think these people they pick off one by one have no family? Will no tears be shed? Will no Mother weep or children cry themselves to sleep? Will no brother fight back tears as he remembers bittersweet childhood memories?

What about their damn narco wars, fighting cartel against cartel and cartels against national soldiers and police. What about their stray bullets killing women and children walking home from school or driving to the corner store? Did they deserve to be punished for simply living day by day? Are their narco families somehow more important than ours, the average Mexican citizens caught up in their bullshit? Does their sacred code only protect families who have members involved in illegal drugs and killing?

Lastly, where’s the fucking code protecting my family, my neighbor’s family and every other innocent family in this country? Where’s the respect for our lives, our security, and our nation? Maybe it’s time to get back to basics and for the narcos to remember you get what you give in this life, sooner or later it all comes back around.