Michoacán conflict: Mexico deploys troops to take over security

Mexico’s government has announced that federal troops will take over security in Michoacán, an area where vigilante groups and a drugs cartel are clashing.

The “self-defense groups” seized several small towns in the western state of Michoacán over the past week.

They say they are fighting for the freedom of their communities from the notorious Knights Templar cartel.

Mexican Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong urged the vigilantes to lay down their weapons.

But he warned that there would be no tolerance for those who continued fighting.

“Be certain we will contain the violence in Michoacán,” he said after a meeting with state governor Fausto Vallejo in the regional capital, Morelia.

Miguel Angel Osorio Chong also encouraged the vigilantes to join the police forces.

But the leader of one of the “self-defense groups,” Estanislao Beltran, rejected that offer.

Mexican federal troops will take over security in Michoacán, where vigilante groups and a drugs cartel are clashing

“If we give up our weapons without any of the drug cartel leaders having been detained, we are putting our families in danger because they will come and kill everyone, including the dogs,” said Estanislao Beltran.

On Sunday, more than 100 vigilantes seized the small town of Nueva Italia. There were brief exchanges of fire with members of the Knights Templar cartel.

Local police were searched and disarmed, and federal forces were nowhere to be seen.

Some months ago, a small number of federal police were deployed in Michoacán state.

The fertile farming area in western Mexico known as Tierra Caliente has been engulfed in a turf war between the Knights Templar and the New Generation cartel, from neighboring Jalisco state.

The vigilantes say the army and federal troops have failed to guarantee the security of their families.

They say they are preparing an offensive against the Knights Templar centre of command, in the nearby city of Apatzingan.

The criminal gang has accused the vigilantes of having sided with the New Generation cartel, something they fiercely deny.

“What we are doing is fighting for the freedom of our families,” Estanislao Beltran said.

T_zNcOTzCAg
Roy Siemens

Roy likes politics. Knowledge is power, Roy constantly says, so he spends nearly all day gathering information and writing articles about the latest events around the globe. He likes history and studying about war techniques, this is why he finds writing his articles a piece of cake. Another hobby of his is horse – riding.

Recent Posts

House Panel Votes to Release Matt Gaetz Ethics Report

The US House Ethics Committee has voted to release its report on former Republican Representative…

4 days ago

ABC News to Pay $15M to Settle Trump Defamation Suit

ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million to President-elect Donald Trump to settle a…

1 week ago

South Korea’s Parliament Impeaches President Yoon Suk Yeol Following Martial Law Scandal

South Korea’s parliament has voted to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed attempt…

1 week ago

Syria: Israeli War Planes Carry Out More Than 100 Air Strikes

Israeli war planes have carried out more than 100 air strikes in Syria on December…

2 weeks ago

Donald Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on BRICS Nations

President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on the BRICS countries if they…

3 weeks ago

Syria Coup: Rebels Take Control of Aleppo

Syrian troops have withdrawn from the city of Aleppo following an offensive by rebels opposed…

3 weeks ago