Mexican Federal Government Suspends Disarmament Of Michoacan Civilian Self-defense Security Forces

Hípolito Mora and José Manuel Mireles Valverde

Federal Mexican government troops and Federal Police to work with Michoacán Civilian Self-defense Security Forces to end criminal activity by Caballeros Templarios.

By H. Nelson Goodson

January 15, 2014

La Ruana, Michoacán - The Mexican federal government on Tuesday agreed to suspend the disarmament of the Michoacán Civilian Self-defense Security Forces (MCSSF) until a later date, according to Hípolito Mora, one of the leaders of the MCSSF in La Ruana. Mora told noticias MVS, which was made public in an interview between Carmen Aristegui and Jesús Zambrano, the president of PRD party that nine MCSSF members including Mora had met with the Michoacán governor, high ranking military officials, Federal Police and Mexican federal government officials to discuss the current situation in the state of Michoacán. Mora confirmed, that the Mexican federal government has agreed to suspend the disarmament of the MCSSF until a later date.

Zambrano also said, the MCSSF armed themselves in defense of their people, including the state against criminal arganizations and the Caballeros Templarios Cartel who had taken over much of the state and had engaged in criminal activities for twelve years. The MCSSF did not rise against the federal or state governments, but to combat the criminal organizations that had taken over Michoacán.

The MCSSF has said, that they will not give up there weapons until seven druglord leaders of the Michoacán criminal organizations and the Caballeros Templarios have been taken into custody. Mora says, the MCSSF will help the federal government, military and Federal Police to locate the seven druglords that are wanted, who have been on the run and in hiding, since the MCSSF began its assault against the criminal organizations.

On Monday, federal troops attempted to disarmed members of the MCSSF in Antúnez in the municipality of Parácuaro and shot 11 people, including four people and an 11-year-old girl were reported killed. The MCSSF claimed that giving up their weapons to the military, they would then become defenseless against the Caballeros Templarios Cartel who would target and kill members of the MCSSF.

A video sent to Televisa, which aired depicted Dr. José Manuel Mireles Valverde, the leader of the MCSSF calling for a disarmament of his group. But on Tuesday,  Valverde denied that he called for a disarmament and vowed to continue to fight against the criminal organizations that had taken over Michoacán. Zambrado said, that it seemed Valverde was pressured by the federal government to read a prepared statement that he later retracted. Valverde's video statement was not discussed at Tuesday's meeting between Mora and the federal government, according to Aristegui's interview with Zambrado.

11 people were shot in Antúnez by the Mexican military including four death and an 11-year-old girl.