Self-Defense Groups Reject Charge They Received Weapons from Drug Cartel Ernesto Martinez Elorriaga - La Jornada
go to original February 1, 2014

The Mexican government is stepping up its fight against drugs, and is going after the gang leaders. Security forces have arrested one of the leaders of the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel and other members. Their arrest has sparked reprisal attacks and could result in more violence. Al Jazeera's David Mercer reports. (AlJazeeraEnglish)

MORELIA, Michoacán - Coordinators of the self-defense groups in the Tierra Caliente region said they have not received weapons from the Jalisco New Generation cartel, as claimed by Jesús Murillo Karam, head of the Attorney General's Office (PGR), when he noted that two members of the self-defense groups arrested in March 2013, in the town of Buenavista Tomatlán, had confessed to receiving weapons from that criminal organization.

Governor Fausto Vallejo Figueroa  also referred to statements by Murillo Karam. "He's a very serious man. And neither he nor representatives of the Federation have to speculate, and if they say it, is because they have grounds," he said.

Estanislao Beltrán Torres, coordinator of the self-defense group, declared that since the movement began in February last year, both The Knights Templar cartel as well as some authorities have tried to tie them to the organized crime in Jalisco, but he said "we are against any cartel that intends to get involved with our people, and we have no obligation to anyone."

The so-called Papa Shorty [Beltrán Torres] said they do not compromise with criminals.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

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