Posted on 12/13/2010 6:43:04 PM PST by smokingfrog
A peace march called by the government of a Mexican town that was the scene of a deadly gun battle between federal forces and the local cartel ended up as a rally in support of a slain drug lord.
Saturday's marcha in Apatzingan, Michoacan, a stronghold of the drug-trafficking group La Familia, had been called as a demonstration for peace after a federal operation against the cartel left 12 people dead last week. Among them was purportedly one of the drug group's two top leaders, Nazario Moreno Gonzalez, also known as "The Craziest" and "The Doctor," among other names.
Photographs show people who took part in the march carrying posters expressing support for La Familia and loyalty to Moreno, regarded as the group's "spiritual leader." One poster said "Viva La Familia Michoacana" and others displayed the phrase, "Nazario will always live in our hearts."
The municipal government distanced itself from the march in a statement released Sunday. But on Monday, in an astonishing radio interview, Mayor Genaro Guizar seemed to lay the blame for the violence on the federal government, not La Familia (links in Spanish).
"The insecurity is not caused by the delinquent groups," Guizar told W Radio. "It is the federal police, who, pardon me, but they go into houses, in almost the entire municipality."
Pressed to elaborate on his accusation, Guizar said he would not comment further and expressed fear for his safety. Later, he told another interviewer that he didn't mean to imply that he did not support the federal government's drug war.
The protest turned narco-rally in Apatzingan demonstrates just how deeply the cult-like La Familia has penetrated society in Michoacan, the home state of President Felipe Calderon...
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
15?
Mexico is a giant windsock. It just points in whatever direction the wind blows.
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