Terrorism: History, Impact, and Presence in Mexico

1. What is Terrorism?

Terrorism is the use of violence for political, ideological, or religious purposes, intended to create fear among the population. According to the UN, terrorism encompasses criminal acts planned to provoke terror in society to influence government decisions or generate destabilization.

2. Origins of Terrorism

Terrorism has roots in antiquity, but its modern form began to develop in the 19th century with anarchist groups in Europe. During the 20th century, organizations such as ETA in Spain, the FARC in Colombia, and Al-Qaeda globally redefined the concept. In the 21st century, terrorism has adopted new forms, including cyberterrorism and attacks with unconventional weapons.

3. How is Terrorism Learned and Practiced?

Terrorist groups use various strategies to indoctrinate and train their members:

• Propaganda: Use of social networks, clandestine forums, and videos to radicalize followers.
• Paramilitary Training: In clandestine camps or conflict zones.
• Financing: Through drug trafficking, kidnappings, cryptocurrencies, and donations from sympathizers.
• Clandestine Networks: Use of cells that operate independently to avoid tracking.

Training Camps in Mexico

During the war on drug trafficking in Felipe Calderón’s administration, the existence of clandestine camps in states such as Michoacán and Guerrero was identified, operated by groups like La Familia Michoacana and Los Zetas. These groups trained their hitmen with paramilitary tactics inspired by elite training programs such as Guatemala’s Kaibiles or special forces from other countries.

Skills Taught in These Camps:

• Urban and Rural Combat: Use of long weapons, ambushes, and guerrilla strategies.
• Use of Explosives: Creation of homemade devices and handling of grenades.
• Torture and Interrogation: Techniques to extract information from rivals and public officials.
• Infiltration and Espionage: Learning counterintelligence techniques to evade authorities.
• Escape and Survival Tactics: Training in jungles and mountainous areas to avoid capture.
• Psychological Manipulation: Indoctrination to generate absolute loyalty to the organization.

The sophistication level of this training has allowed cartels to operate with military strategies, challenging the armed forces and complicating the fight against organized crime in the country.

4. History of Terrorism in Mexico

In Mexico, terrorism has not been as recurrent as in other countries, but there have been isolated events:

• Attack in Morelia (2008): During the September 15 celebrations, grenades were detonated in the main square, leaving eight dead and more than 100 injured. Felipe Calderón classified it as a terrorist act.
• Explosions at Pemex (2017): The anarchist group Individualistas Tendiendo a lo Salvaje (ITS) claimed responsibility for explosions at Petróleos Mexicanos facilities.
• CJNG Attacks: Some actions by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have been classified as terrorist acts due to their brutality and the way they seek to instill fear in the population and pressure the government.

5. Cost of Terrorism for Mexico

Fighting terrorism and national security have represented a significant expense:

• Security Spending: Since 2006, the budget for the fight against organized crime and terrorism has increased exponentially, exceeding 300 billion pesos annually.
• Economic Impact: The perception of insecurity affects foreign investment and tourism. After the Morelia attack, there was a 10% drop in tourist influx to the state.

6. Who Supports or Justifies Terrorism?

Terrorism can be supported or justified by different actors:

• Radical Groups: Anarchist cells have promoted acts of sabotage.
• Narcoterrorism: Cartels like CJNG use terror to expand their control.
• Extreme Ideological Currents: Some movements justify violence as a tool for political or social struggle.
• International Factors: Global financing networks may influence the operations of certain groups.

Conclusion

Although Mexico has not historically been a country with a systemic terrorism problem, it has experienced events that have challenged national security. Narcoterrorism, anarchist extremism, and criminal networks continue to pose a latent threat. The challenge lies in strengthening intelligence and international cooperation to prevent these acts from becoming a more significant problem in the future.