Chivis Martínez for Borderland Beat
“Yesterday, there was a general meeting of the Council. We agreed to identify and clear out all the criminal element who have infiltrated. Things are going well…. yesterday Tocumbo and Cotija was liberated”.
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Padre Goyo (above in Apatzingán)
Padre Goyo announced on Wednesday he was taking a break and leaving to France for a couple of months. Stating he was "Too tired, too angry, it is time to pause", was subsequent to the attempted ouster of the mayor of Apatzingán, Uriel Chavez Mendoza, the nephew of "EL Chayo", premier leader of Caballeros Templarios.
After Padre Goyo accused Chavez of being complicit in the disappearance of 300 Apatzingán residents, Chavez shot back accusing Padre Goyo of being a"viejo liar", a pedophile and a drug trafficker.
The much respected and loved priest, was enraged and filed a slander lawsuit.
I asked about Goyo and was told he remains in Apatzingán at this time.
Search Continues
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| Dr. Mireles in Nueva Italia |
The above is part of a message from Dr Mireles. He also sent the Nueva Italia photo, taken a couple hours ago. In the photo one can see how well he looks, and much healthier compared to how he appeared when he returned to Michoacán from his therapy. Nueva Italia was liberated on Jan 13, 2014. It appears that the return of Dr. Mireles has stabilized AD and provided the strong leadership needed for the group, and lifted the spirits of citizens.
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In both Tocumbo (below forming barricade) and Cotija (above) autodefensas arrived in the company of agents of the State Preventive Police, and set up barricades in the road access to the county. Alberto Mendoza Contreras, Cotija municipal mayor confirmed the arrival of autodefensas.
Leaders of the self-defense of Michoacán along with the federal government agreed to "clean" their ranks from infiltrators. Spokesmen for the community guards, Dr Manuel Mireles, Estanislao Beltran and Hipólito Mora met with Commissioner of Security, Alfredo Castillo and negotiated help in expelling those who are posing as autodefensas but are in reality criminals or having a criminal past, in order to maintain the moral authority of the group.
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Other highlights of the meeting:
In both Tocumbo (below forming barricade) and Cotija (above) autodefensas arrived in the company of agents of the State Preventive Police, and set up barricades in the road access to the county. Alberto Mendoza Contreras, Cotija municipal mayor confirmed the arrival of autodefensas.
Leaders of the self-defense of Michoacán along with the federal government agreed to "clean" their ranks from infiltrators. Spokesmen for the community guards, Dr Manuel Mireles, Estanislao Beltran and Hipólito Mora met with Commissioner of Security, Alfredo Castillo and negotiated help in expelling those who are posing as autodefensas but are in reality criminals or having a criminal past, in order to maintain the moral authority of the group.
Autodefensas will refrain from entering the municipalities in urban areas (previous agreements was in the reverse, having AD in large urban areas with the government taking on the smaller towns)
Autodefensas agreed to share information with the Commission for Security and Integral Development of Michoacán.
Autodefensas to remove their barricades, in coordination with federal and state authorities, where they are no longer necessary "because of the presence of federal forces and organized groups themselves”
Recognized, was that in the south of Tierra Caliente, "security has improved considerably, because there is an atmosphere of calm and certainty."
Agreement for weekly meetings to be conducted between the autodefensas group, and the Commission for Security and Integral Development of Michoacán. The agreements and progress are hoped to result in gradual demobilization.
Autodefensas have stated from the onset, their goal was to establish security in Michoacán, with the government conducting their duty in maintaining law and order in the region, and the capture of the seven “heads” of the Caballeros Templarios.
Padre Goyo (above in Apatzingán)
Padre Goyo announced on Wednesday he was taking a break and leaving to France for a couple of months. Stating he was "Too tired, too angry, it is time to pause", was subsequent to the attempted ouster of the mayor of Apatzingán, Uriel Chavez Mendoza, the nephew of "EL Chayo", premier leader of Caballeros Templarios.
After Padre Goyo accused Chavez of being complicit in the disappearance of 300 Apatzingán residents, Chavez shot back accusing Padre Goyo of being a"viejo liar", a pedophile and a drug trafficker.
The much respected and loved priest, was enraged and filed a slander lawsuit.
I asked about Goyo and was told he remains in Apatzingán at this time.
Search Continues
Autodefensas have sent 300 members to the sierras to assist in the search from Chayo and La Tuta, they, along with federal forces, have identified the trail of the two maximum leaders of Caballeros Templarios.
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Federal Police and AD working together..for now
Autodefensas and federal police, working together continue making strides against organized crime. As they work together in the sierras, they are executing important arrests on the plaza level.
Federal Police and AD working together..for now
Autodefensas and federal police, working together continue making strides against organized crime. As they work together in the sierras, they are executing important arrests on the plaza level.
An example is in the photo above, depicting yesterday the moment of the arrest of a plaza chief by federal police and the autodefensas of Yurécuaro.
Javier Álvarez was stopped in a residential area, as he approached Churitnzio, a community 15 miles south of La Piedad.
His BMW was confiscated (shown in the photo)
The detainee is recognized as a plaza chief for Caballeros Templarios. With him was found a book containing records of quota collections and payroll payments. These types of arrests are imperative in disrupting organized crime activities on the regional level, and gathering information as to who the membership consists of, and arrest those members as well.