Posted on 01/14/2014 1:58:08 AM PST by Brad from Tennessee
Federal troops will take over security in a large area of a western Mexican state after days of gun fights between masked vigilantes and members of one of the country’s most powerful drug cartels.
Interior Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said federal forces with support from state police will patrol an area in Michoacan State, known as Tierra Caliente, the home base of the Knights Templar drug cartel.
“Be certain we will contain the violence in Michoacan,” Osorio Chong said, urging the vigilante groups to withdraw from the area so federal forces could take control.
Since late last year, vigilante groups in the state have moved deeper into territory controlled by the Knights Templar cartel and they now are converging on Apatzingan, considered one of gang’s main strongholds.
The vigilantes’ advance has raised the risk of a bloody urban battle in the city.
The vigilantes formed almost a year ago, arguing that local police were unwilling or unable to curb the cartel's violence and extortion rackets. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
Vigilante? It is illegal to cooperate with Cartels, even undernthreat of force.
Government is evil.
Vigilante? It is illegal to cooperate with Cartels, even under threat of force.
The State is evil.
I should say.
Their intent is to stop the civilians from defending themselves. They may end up fighting the civilians which is what the intervention is all about stopping.
The Mexican army is just as dirty as the cartels!
“The Mexican army is just as dirty as the cartels!”
Think again. From the story:
“They carry high-calibre weapons that Mexico only allows for military use. But government forces have not moved against the groups and in some cases have appeared to be working in cooperation with the vigilantes.”
Too many people make the wrong assumption about the military. People in the military, given the choice of following orders or protecting their families, will make the latter choice.
“Where’d the “vigilantes” get their guns ?”
It’s not a deep, dark secret that weapons are run from Venezuela into Central America and then up into Mexico. High quality arms from Germany and Eastern Europe, including full-auto weapons, can be had from this conduit. US Customs issues an annual report on gun-running into the Americas.
My best guess for vigilates’ access to weapons is that they raid both cartel and government armories, buy weapons on the black market and receive assistance from military members sympathetic to their cause.
Years ago I was in Guadalajara for a few weeks and in the course of business became acquainted with a local cop. When I mentioned the hotel where I was staying he told me it was where the Secret Police were billeted. “That explains it,” I said. “I noticed a lot of thuggish types in suits coming and going. I thought it was the Mexican Mafia.” He said: “Son la misma persona.” It is one and the same.
Believe it or not, even though firearms are technically “illegal” in Mexico, Mexicans still own guns!
I read a similar story here on FR not more than 2 weeks ago about how the Mexican citizenry in some Mexican hamlet had sucessfully over-powered the cartel & won back their village.
If you believe that the Mexican army is just like the US Army,
you are sadly mistaken.
When I was in the Navy, (US NAVY), I worked with some Mexican nationals. They’d tell stories how the Mexican army would setup checkpoints and rob folks of their valuables. Who do you call? The cops?
By the way, I’ve been in Mexico too...and it wasn’t
Tijuana or Cabo (or any other cheesy tourist traps)
“If you believe that the Mexican army is just like the US Army,
you are sadly mistaken.”
Don’t put words in my mouth. It’s unsanitary and might get your fingers bit off.
Please clarify the point you were trying to make
about the Mexican army.
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