Self-Defense Groups Refuse to Disarm and Demand Withdrawal of Army and Marines Jose Gil Olmos - Proceso
go to original April 7, 2014

Self-defense members spraypaint their demand: "Marines, Get Out" (José Gil Olmos)

Apatzingán, Michoacán - At the announcement of their [impending] disarmament made by Commissioner Alfredo Castillo, members of citizen self-defense groups of the Tierra Caliente protested against the Navy and Army.

Last night they manned blockades, which they later withdrew, on the Century XXI highway between Uruapan and Apatzingán, but they maintained checkpoints at the Cuatro Caminos [Four Roads] traffic circle and at the entrance to some neighborhoods where the self-defense groups have a presence.

On this highway, at the tollbooth for Nueva Italia, a Federal Police checkpoint was observed and farther on a heavily armed military checkpoint with trucks and a trailer.

Both in Apatzingán and Nueva Italia one could also see businesses open and free movement of cars and autobuses, which were not suspended as had been announced yesterday.

At the Chandio traffic circle in Apatzingán, dozens of unarmed men wearing white T-shirts with the legend "La Huerta Self-Defense Group" demonstrated since early morning against the Navy and the Army presence.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

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