Mexican Self-Defense Groups Blast Authorities for Lack of Support EFE
go to original January 22, 2014

Members of a self-defense group in the western Mexican state of Michoacan. (EFE)

MORELIA - Leaders of the militias founded to defend communities in the western state of Michoacan from the depredations of a powerful drug cartel say Mexican federal authorities failed to deliver on a promise of cooperation.

Militia members engaged in armed clashes with gunmen from the Caballeros Templarios (Knights Templar) gang in several parts of the municipality of Paracuaro, a spokesman for the self-defense groups told Efe by telephone.

The federal forces deployed in Michoacan since Jan. 13 with a mission to end the strife did not support the militias in Paracuaro even though the vigilantes told them they were on the trail of a Templarios leader, Estanislao Beltran said.

He also complained that militia representatives were excluded from Michoacan Gov. Fausto Vallejo's meeting with local officials and businesspeople to discuss the security situation.

The conference took place at city hall in Apatzingan, the chief bastion of the Templarios.

Read the rest at La Prensa

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