International Business Times: Mexico’s vigilantes are back, and angry. The so-called self-defense groups that rose up against drug cartels in the turbulent state of Michoacán last year regrouped over the weekend, took up AK-47s, and blocked roads in several cities, announcing their return in full force -- a development that underscores how the security situation in parts of Mexico is still dire, despite the president's two-year-old promise to fix it.
The vigilantes, known as “autodefensas,” took over roads in six cities across Michoacán state on Sunday, saying the federal government was failing to protect them from the Knights Templar cartel and another organized crime group known, strikingly, as Los Viagras. The vigilantes, many of whom for months have been part of a specialized military unit called the Rural Defense Forces, also complained about not receiving salaries or adequate support from the state. Read more.
The MexicoBlog of the CIP Americas Program monitors and analyzes international press on Mexico with a focus on the US-backed War on Drugs in Mexico and the struggle in Mexico to strengthen the rule of law, justice and protection of human rights. Relevant political developments in both countries are also covered.
Showing posts with label autodefensas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autodefensas. Show all posts
Dec 17, 2014
Jun 30, 2014
Mireles: Partisan Justice
La Jornada: The arrest of José Manuel Mireles, ex member of the Council
of Autodefensas of Michoacan, occurred yesterday at the hands of federal forces, constitutes a clear example of the partisan application of justice and distortion of the state of law that state has endured in recent months and that has sharpened beginning with the federal government's intervention in the Michoacan scenario and the virtual annulment of state sovereignty.
It's noteworthy, in the first place, the lack of consequence of a federal
government that announces zero tolerance to armed civilian groups just
weeks after it used them to pursue and abate the alleged ringleaders of
criminal organizations. With respect to that, it's appropriate to remember
the participation of self-defense groups - according to what Mireles himself
related - in the operation that led to the death of Nazario Moreno, El
Chayo, supposed founder of the Knights Templar (Los caballeros
templarios).
of Autodefensas of Michoacan, occurred yesterday at the hands of federal forces, constitutes a clear example of the partisan application of justice and distortion of the state of law that state has endured in recent months and that has sharpened beginning with the federal government's intervention in the Michoacan scenario and the virtual annulment of state sovereignty.
It's noteworthy, in the first place, the lack of consequence of a federal
government that announces zero tolerance to armed civilian groups just
weeks after it used them to pursue and abate the alleged ringleaders of
criminal organizations. With respect to that, it's appropriate to remember
the participation of self-defense groups - according to what Mireles himself
related - in the operation that led to the death of Nazario Moreno, El
Chayo, supposed founder of the Knights Templar (Los caballeros
templarios).
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