MICHIOCAN, Mexico (PNN) - May 23, 2013 - Farmers wearing bulletproof vests and toting assault rifles ride in pick-up trucks emblazoned with the word “self-defense” to protect this rural Mexican town from a drug cartel.
The government deployed thousands of troops to the western state of Michoacan this week, but in some towns like Coalcoman, population 10,000, vigilantes are wary of putting down their weapons until they again feel safe.
Last week, Coalcoman residents packed the main square to show their support for the 200-strong vigilante patrol, making it the latest Michoacan town to take up arms in recent months to combat cartel extortion and violence.
Michoacan was the first state to see troops when then-president Felipe Calderon deployed soldiers and marines across the nation to crack down on cartels in 2006.
The government of President Enrique Pena Nieto sent around 4,000 soldiers and marines this week to Michoacan along with 1,000 federal pig thug cops to restore peace in the agricultural state.
The drug cartel, The Knights Templar, accuse the vigilantes of being backed by their enemies, the Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartel, which is linked to the Sinaloa syndicate led by Mexico’s most wanted man, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.
The self-defense militias deny any links to drug traffickers, but the defense minister suggested Tuesday that some were getting support from dubious groups.