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Borderland Beat Translated by 'J' the Mover
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| Thumbs up all around as citizen police set up check points at all entrances and exits |
Guerrero - Community police from Ayutla de los Libres expected that if the groups of organized criminals take revenge on the community, the community will do the same thing in return: "we know who they are, where they are, and we also know their families. It will be an eye for an eye."
In an new year interview that took place on the Ayutla de los Libres reserves, most community members covered their faces with handkerchiefs and balaclavas. Coordinators justify these actions by the complicated situation of living in a state of insecurity.
We did not see any effective action against organized crime and for this reason this movement has been create with the intention of liberating the people. We, the citizens and the families, decided that we had enough harassment because we were no longer able to walk in the streets. The night is dark, but the day is also.”
Robust and short in stature, the man who is recognized as one of the leaders of the movement indicated that the action that they have implemented is no longer only about vigilance, as it was in Olinala and Huamuxtitlan in 2011.We are going to locate people who are not satisfied with living in a normal society and we are going to kick them out. The villages are fed up and for this reason we decided to organize ourselves against those called ‘hit men’”, he comments.He indicated that as he has advised the Attorney General (PGJ) on Monday night, that they have detained three men who are accused of collaborating with organized crime: “They have a lot to do with this problem, because we found them with weapons and evidence that they were involved in kidnappings. That is why there are conditions to re-educate them.”With respect to the possibility of delivering the men to the Public Ministry of the Common Law (MPFC) as the authorities have suggested, he said that the agreement is that the people are going to defend by their own methods, but those detained will be subject to re-education in a house of justice under the Regional Coordinator of Community Authority (CRAC).
He added that their activities had already been reported to the Secretary of the Navy, the National Army and the State Administration, because the agreement is to maintain the fight against crime in an indefinite way.
And preventing reprisals on the part of the members of the organizations that they are confronting, another member of the leadership noted: “The people can do no more and are going to have to act maybe in an unlawful way, but it is clear that they are left with no alternative and that if necessary they will have to see an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”Against those who might doubt these men, he specified:“They (the criminals) also have family and that they will be hurt in the same manner that the criminals hurt people, so I hope that they do not do here what they have done in other places.”
Although it is calculated that 500 men have been mobilized, the leaders have indicated that there are at least 700 but that they are going to recruit more.
He said that with so many people have joining the mission he has been able to gather a large amount of information with respect to who is a part of the criminal cells:”
“We have names and addresses, everyone is located and we want to make it clear that if something happens with our families, the same will happen with their families, they may fight like men or better yet, retreat and live life in an honorable manner.”
It is assumed that the stance can be lamentable, but he says that in these moments the communities have no other alternative.
