When we last checked-up on Mexican auto-defensas, the federal government had created a rural police force to co-opt the thousands of Mexican militia members. All the auto-defensas had to do: register their guns, grab a literal handful of ammo, put on an official uniform and take orders from the feds. As borderlandbeat.com reports (after the jump) the federales‘ new “Fuerza Rural” isn’t finding fertile ground. “Of the 27 towns and cities part of the May 10 agreement, only five have actually created a FR unit . . . In all the others, the self-defense groups, i.e., armed civilians, continue operating as before.” And a good thing too . . .
AUC Still Going Strong
Shootout with Templarios
Rurales in only 6 Municipalities
With rifles and pistols of all sizes, including those reserved exclusively for the Mexican Army, self-defense groups are still in the towns and villages of Michoacán.
The threat to arrest any civilian seen in public with guns turned out to be just talk.
The self-defense groups are still present in many towns in the state, manning checkpoints and aiding the federal forces, as happened in Apatzingán a few days ago.
On May 27, alleged members of the Templarios engaged in a gun battle with self-defense forces in downtown Apatzingán.
After the shootout, federal forces and self-defense members were deployed to three colonias, where other firefights took place, searching for the aggressors.
With high-powered weapons in plain sight, the self-defense members conducted searches of houses and streets.
“After May 10, there will be no armed people seen in the streets,” warned Interior Minister Osorio Chong, during a trip to Morelia on April 24th.
He was basing this statement on the agreement reached 10 days earlier between Commissioner Castillo and leaders of the self-defense groups.
In this agreement, the rebellious civilians accepted the registration of their weapons and the opportunity to join the new Fuerza Rural starting May 10th.
In this way, the self-defense members could continue to guard their communities, but now under rules, with registered weapons and official uniforms.
Commissioner Castillo even warned that there would be no extension to any of the deadlines announced.
The new Fuerza Rural (FR), previously self-defense groups, began operating on May 10th.
However, almost three weeks later, federal authorities have had difficulties getting the FR up and running. Of the 27 towns and cities part of the May 10 agreement, only five have actually created a FR unit.
Tepalcatepec, Buenavista Tomatlán, Coalcomán, La Huacana y Chinicuila, are the only towns where the FR is currently operating.
In all the others, the self-defense groups, i.e., armed civilians, continue operating as before.
One of the checkpoints controlled by self-defense members is near the Cuatro Caminos-Apatzingán highway intersection. There you can see armed men openly carrying high-powered weapons and ammo, stopping and checking every vehicle that passes.
Meanwhile, in CA, your AR or AK better have a bullet button and be limited to 10 rounds. Sheesh.
Viva la causa. Viva la revolucion. .
Thank you for covering this. No one else is.
+1
+2
Notice they call them Fuerza RURAL (mind control so no one gets an idea to start it in a city like Monterrey, Tijuana, Juarez, Tampico or Nuevo Laredo)
“The threat to arrest any civilian seen in public with guns turned out to be just talk.”
Just like any other threat the Mexican government issues.
Unless, of course you are a US Marine.
Hell yeah Autodefensas! Keep up the good work!
‘MURICA! Wait a minute….
Meanwhile, journalists are still mindless about what a “high power weapon” really is.
Hint: .50cal Barret or .338 Lapua
( NOT 5.56mm NATO or any other lightweight AR / AK rounds. )
Liberty is its own reward. Viva Los Autodefensios!
Good and goods on ’em. Would it be illegal to donate somehow?
I would err on the side of caution. While they may not officially be labeled as a terrorist group, it would not be hard for the US to arbitrarily decide they are and then make you a terrorist by proxy. With the NSA in the state that it’s in and with the SEC and other organizations watching money moving in and out of Latin America like hawks I would strongly advise against it.
I live in San Diego CA. Used to go to Mexico all the time for surfing day trips. No more. Water is polluted and it is not safe in TJ anymore. Sad.
It’s handy to have a sideboard and some storage to keep little knick-knacks.
You can find all kinds of varieties of artificial plants at
one place i. Thai décor is most of the time ornate and full of dynamic movements.
Comments are closed.