Michoacan is one of Mexico’s most beautiful states but increasing lawlessness is making certain regions risky to visit.
Mexican armed forces and federal police officers have increased their presence on the borders of Jalisco and Michoacan in the wake of heightened activity by “self-defense groups” and the recent discovery of a mass grave in the municipality of La Barca.
According to some reports, self-defense groups have now “taken over” the town halls of six municipalities in Michoacan, five of them bordering Jalisco – Buenavista, Tomatitlan, Tepalcatepec, Coalcoman and Chinicuila. The police departments in some of these municipalities have reportedly stood down, many of them accused of being in collusion with organized crime groups.
A few other reports suggest as many as 19 municipalities in Michoacan are now in the hands of the vigilantes, though the state government refutes this figure.Leaders of these vigilante groups say they have local backing to protect citizens from the excesses of organized crime (extortion, kidnappings, etc.), in particular by the Knights Templar cartel, an offshoot of the now defunct La Familia cartel. There have been several bloody confrontations between the Knights Templar and the vigilante groups in recent weeks.
The increased presence of Mexican soldiers and federal police in the region has failed to persuade the vigilantes to lay down their weapons and return to their homes.
Travelers to some parts of the state have to pass through two sets of road blocks – one manned by soldiers and another by armed members of the self defense groups.
The groups say they will not stand down until authorities arrest the leaders of the Knights Templar cartel. For their part, Knights Templar missives suggest that the vigilante groups are being armed and financed by rival criminal gangs.
The Michoacan government is keen to contain the self defense groups and ensure they do not spread out and take over more municipalities. The state’s attorney general says the federal government has formulated a strategy to contain the groups, although he would not reveal any details.
Up until now, the conflict has been contained in Michoacan. Jalisco Attorney General Carlos Najera stressed on Monday that there are no self-defense groups operating in this state.
Meanwhile, authorities announced that 30 bodies have been discovered in a mass grave near La Barca. Forensic teams are working to see if they can match the cadavers with lists of missing persons.