The NARCOMANTA (Drug Cartel Banner) Phenomenon of Power

Just very briefly, don't want to let this go from my mind. It was until quite recently that the so called narcomanta phenomenon caught my attention. I think that it was only three months ago that I thougth that this was bizarre and did not want to think that it was important. However, seeing in the news that killings involving drug cartels, police and civilians are a daily bread in the Mexican news, have made me change my mind about this.

I am not sure on how people in Mexico feel about the narcomantas, but i see them as acts of terrorism, because they send messages to different social institutions: to the government, to the police and army, and to the rest of the society. As far as I am aware, the narcomantas are big banners that are displayed in diverse areas of cities (where they could be seen of course). The normal cities where they are displayed are where important drug cartels have power, and where corruption is wide spread across the police and government. Yes, I know this could mean almost anywhere in Mexico (sadly though). Well, let's leave it to Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Reynosa, and Veracruz. I hope I am not missing any place, but if i am, please make a comment.

So, yes, the narcomantas that I first saw said things like: 'we are recruiting current and ex-police forces to join our cartel. We provide these benefits' (salary, etc. obviously better than the one offered by the state). Nowadays, the much more complex and elaborate banners say something like: "the federal state has been making millions by hiding away the following drug cartel leaders: -and there is the list of very much sought for criminals-". And finally, on one side of the banner, the photo of the muppet that Mexicans have as president... I don't want to get started about that 'president' man.

As I see it, just under this very superficial comment and my impressions for the past few months, the narcomantas are a very ambitious project. They are a clear symbol of what Mexico has been pretending to cover for decades: corruption is endemic and is at large.

The narcomantas must be terrifying the whole of the society because more than ever before the killings happen on an scandalous daily basis, at many places, and are reaching more people. The banners may serve a purpose of confirming fear to the society. What it may have started as a war against the state, must be understood as a means to scare the people.

In Mexico it is more or less evident that very few are protected (who are these and by whom are they protected is what has been evidenced by the narcomantas), and therefore you cannot trust the state in all its shapes. At the end, the most painful thing to me is that this is cutting deep into the soul of the people.