 |
| The Community Policesaidthat they enteredthe villagebecausethe localscalled for their intervention. |
Mexico City, January 23— Around 500 members of the Union of Towns And Organizations Of The State Of Guerrero (Unión de Pueblos y Organizaciones del Estado de Guerrero (UPOEG)) entered the town of El Ocotito in the municipality of Chilpancingo, the state capital, this afternoon where they arrested at least five suspected members of organized crime who were engaging in extorting and kidnapping people of that community.
 |
| Bruno Placido Valerio |
Bruno Placido Valerio, leader of the organization, told reporters that he entered the village and that the people demanded an intervention since as it has been previously reported that there is an increase in insecurity.
After carrying out operations on the streets, the Civil Guards arrested at least five suspected criminals who will be presented in the coming hours.
Placido Valerio did not rule out more arrests of people who are linked to organized crime, who conduct kidnappings and extortions on the people and businesses of the community.
 |
A member of the Community Police in Ocotito, Guerrero Photo By: Ezequiel Flores |
According to press reports, the presence of the Civil Guards extends to villages such as Mohoneras, Buenavista de la Salud, Rincón de la Vía and Cajeles.
It is reported that these groups have set up checkpoints after entering the state capital this afternoon.
Last week, the Board of Common Land and Communities Opposed to the Parota Dam (Consejo de Ejidos y Comunidades Opositoras a la presa la Parota (CECOP)), announced the creation of a Community Police that operates in 47 villages of the municipality of Acapulco, Guerrero.
 |
| Marco Antonio Suastegui Muñoz with Subcomandante Marcos |
Marco Antonio Suastegui Muñoz, leader of this organization, said that the formation of these Self-Defense Civil Guards is in response to the state and federal government forgetting about them.
He also said that this group of Community Police will be governed by the Regional Council of Community Authorities (CRAC), and will consist of people from the communities of Agua Caliente, Huamuchitos, Amarillo, among others.
“We need the governors to have a say and to not repress these social movements, in this we will never have an agreement,” he said. “Right now, what we need the most is to have the support of the citizens, the governors, and other related social organizations. “The last thing we need is a confrontation with the authorities”.
Last December, the National Human Rights Commission presented a report on the Self-Defense Groups in Guerrero, which states that the increase of these organizations in the state is indicative of the lack of an “effective response from the State” and a “void” that was generated by the state and local authorities of their fundamental obligations to ensure safety”.
 |
| Ángel Aguirre Rivero |
The governor of the state, Ángel Aguirre Rivero, stepped out and rejected the report by the NHRC. He considered it as “alarmist”. However, the defender of human rights organization told him that he shouldn’t allude responsibility for the Self-Defense Groups, since they have confirmed that the state authorities have not responded effectively to the insecurity problem experienced by the people of Guerrero.
According to the report, there is a presence of the Self-Defense Groups in the seven regions of Guerrero, as well as 46 of the 81 municipalities of the state; in which 2,307,169 people live in, who represent 65.47% of the total population of Guerrero.
Source: Sin Embargo