By: Antonio Ramos
April 29, 2014— After a meeting between members of the General Council of the Autodefensas of Michoacán, the autodefensasset out strategies and plans in order to force the liberation of their comrades who are currently being detained; among the plans was a total blockade of the state of Michoacán on May 1, if authorities fail in their agreements.
In an exclusive interview, José Manuel Mireles Valverde stated that a statewide blockade was agreed upon on May 11 if their fellow detained comrades, who have been detained since March 2013, aren’t released.
“If all of the autodefensas who are currently detained (for carrying a weapon in order to protect their own and families’ lives) aren’t released by the May 10th deadline, we will block the state of Michoacán”.
The coordinator of the autodefensas of Tepalcatepec said that to enter into legality is another key point in the movement; he warned that they run a “grave danger”.
He recalled an incident that occurred a few days ago in which a motorcyclist shot a comrade at close range.
He also indicated that the autodefensas don’t have a problem with disarming but the first thing that needs to happen is for the the rule of law in Michoacán to be established and to clean the state of Knights Templar members, he said.
Dr. Mireles informed Borderland Beat that “the families of the detained autodefensas plan to block the roads of Michoacán IF the detained autodefensas aren’t released by May 10; this was one of the agreements that we agreed on with the federal government that wasn’t written down”
So in a way it’s a way that the autodefensas can protest against the arbitrary detainment of their the lemon pickers and comrades…to show support for them and their families.
Source: Mi Morelia