Human Rights Body Sees Danger in Rise of Vigilante Groups to Confront Drug Gangs E. Eduardo Castillo - Associated Press
go to original December 18, 2013

Masked and armed men sit in the back of a pick-up truck at the entrance to the town of Ayutla, Mexico. Hundreds of men in the southern Mexico state of Guerrero have taken up arms to defend their villages against drug gangs, a vigilante movement born of frustration at extortion, killings and kidnappings in a region wracked by violence. (Associated Press)

MEXICO CITY — Mexico's human rights body said Tuesday that the government shouldn't be allowing the formation of vigilante groups in areas where people are increasingly confronting drug gangs.

Raul Plascencia, president of the National Human Rights Commission, said the growth of these groups are already undermining the rule of law but could also lead to more violence. He blamed the emergence of such groups on an official failure to provide security.

"This is a failure for the government because it's not able to offer the most minimum protection," Plascencia said.

A report by the commission released Tuesday said rights workers detected at least 7,000 members of armed self-defense groups in just the southern state of Guerrero where they conducted interviews.

Vigilante groups were noted in more than half of Guerrero's municipalities, according to the report, but Plascencia said he also had received reports of similar bands in 10 other Mexican states.

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