Leader says vigilante group's presence in gang-held city "a triumph" скачать в хорошем качестве

Leader says vigilante group's presence in gang-held city "a triumph"

(9 Feb 2014) Mexican vigilantes continued patrolling areas of the gang-held city of Apatzingan, Michoacan on Sunday in coordination with government forces to clear the city from cartel gunmen rule. Under an agreement with the government, the self-defence group members are not allowed to enter the town with weapons, according to leader of La Ruana, Michoacan's self-defence group, Hipolito Mora. "We don't have the self-defence pickup trucks, we don't have shirts or hats that identify us as self-defence, we're also not armed," Mora said, referring to a group he brought to Apatzingan to La Ruana. Dozens of vigilante group members, who did wear white t-shirts to identify themselves, could be seen standing outside a church and on local roads on Sunday. Mora said while federal police controlled security in the city, both armed and unarmed members of the self-defence movement were working with them to identify Knights Templar cartel hideouts. Mora told The Associated Press that approximately 200 gang members were arrested, including the brother of one of its leaders, Enrique "Kiki" Plancarte. Apatzingan, a city of 100-thousand people, has been under effective control of the Knights Templar cartel for several years. The control of the Knights Templar group was once so complete that it would have been unthinkable for any rival organisation to enter Apatzingan. The presence of the vigilantes in the city is both a symbolic and tactical boost for the movement. "I consider it as a triumph, a triumph to be able to be here in Apatzingan," Mora said. "Many thought it was impossible. Thank God they were wrong and we are here. I feel calm." The government made no immediate comment. The Knights Templar, which promotes itself as a mystic Christian order, often travelled in vehicles marked with its symbol, a red cross, and sponsored demonstrations calling for the federal police to leave the city. In October, vigilantes tried to march into Apatzingan but were turned back by soldiers who said they couldn't enter with weapons. Mexico legalised the growing "self-defence" movement in Michoacan late last month, saying they would be incorporated into quasi-military units called Rural Defence Corps. Vigilante groups estimate their numbers at 20-thousand. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...