Michoacan Self-Defense Groups to Government - 'We Can't Give Up Our Weapons' Jose Gil Olmos - Proceso
go to original January 14, 2014

NUEVA ITALIA, Michoacán - Citizen self-defense groups rejected the federal government's proposal to deliver their weapons and return to their places of origin, since to do so, they warned, would put their lives and those of their families at risk from the actions of organized crime.

Estanislao Beltrán, better known as Papa Pitufo [Papa Cop] a member of the self-defense coordinating committee, said there's no turning back from their goal of "cleaning-up" all of Michoacán's municipalities of the criminal gangs, especially The Knights Templar.

Interviewed after a meeting with the authorities of this municipality, which was "liberated" the day before following an hour and a half skirmish, the Tepalcatepec self-defense group leader voiced his distrust of the government of Fausto Vallejo, because so far his administration, he said, hasn't arrested any of The Knights Templar's leaders.

"How can they want us to give up our weapons if they don't fulfill their responsibilities? They haven't caught even one of the leaders or even their right hands [chief lieutenants]."

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