Power and Growth of Mexican Vigilantes Likely to Increase During 2014 Miriam Wells - InSight Crime
go to original January 7, 2014

The Vigilantes: With an estimated 70,000 people dead in Mexico's drug war, armed vigilantes are now taking the law into their own hands. (SBS Dateline)

Mexico's citizen self-defense or vigilante groups have made major shows of strength as the year has begun, indicating that last year's surge of power and growth may increase during 2014.

In Guerrero, the two major, and formerly rival, vigilante groups, the Union of Peoples and Organizations of the State of Guerrero (Upoeg) and the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC), announced they were now united, reported Milenio. More than 10,000 members of both groups were applauded by local people as they marched together in the town of Ayutla de los Libres.

The groups now have "one solo voice, one solo strength, one solo integral agenda," said Felix Ramirez, one of the regional representatives.

Meanwhile in the state of Michoacan, dozens of armed members of self-defense groups took control of the town of Paracuaro over the weekend and detained more than 15 police officers, reported Animal Politico.

Read the rest at InSight Crime

Dozens of armed self-defense militia members entered the center of Paracuaro, Mexico on Saturday and disarmed local police forces, in what they said was an attempt to free the community from the control of the Knights Templar organized crime group. (RuptlyTV)

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