May 19, 2001

U.N. investigates deaths of Juárez women

Diana Washington Valdez, El Paso Times

A United Nations monitor will meet today with officials and nongovernmental organizations in Juárez regarding complaints about violence against women. Dato Param Cumaraswamy is the second U.N. monitor to look into the Juárez women's deaths. Asma Jahangir, a U.N. monitor based in Geneva, Switzerland, met in 1999 with relatives of murdered and missing victims, and with officials.

The Chihuahua state special prosecutor assigned to investigate women's deaths in Juárez reported that 62 women had been killed under various circumstances since October 1998, when Gov. Patricio Martinez's administration took over the investigations.

About 250 women have been killed in Juárez since 1993. Theories on who's killing the women include drug dealers, gangs, serial killers and copycat killers. Domestic violence accounted for some cases.

The women's deaths have attracted worldwide attention.

Param Cumaraswamy met Friday in Chihuahua City with government leaders and nongovernmental organizations.

Last week, a U.S. federal court convicted of drug charges a man who was suspected in the 1997 shooting death of a woman in the Vertigo Club, a Juárez nightclub patronized by El Paso and New Mexico teen-agers.

Victor "El Cubano" Lazcano-Arteaga was sentenced May 10 to 21 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $100 fine. Based on a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.

FBI Special Agent Al Cruz said Mexican authorities were notified that Lazcano-Arteaga was in U.S. custody; however, Mexican officials did not seek his extradition in the Juárez homicide case.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com