Mexico: Armed Civilians Patrol Two Towns in Southwest
January 15th, 2013Via: AP:
Several hundred civilians have taken up arms in two towns in a southwestern Mexico state and are arresting people suspected of crimes and imposing a curfew, leading authorities to promise to reinforce security forces in the area.
People wearing ski masks or bandanas and carrying small arms this week began manning checkpoints on roads into the municipalities of Ayutla de los Libres and Teconoapa in Guerrero state’s Costa Chica area about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of the Pacific resort of Acapulco. Leaders said they were acting against crime and insecurity.
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A man in a ski mask at one roadblock told reporters that townspeople had to act against criminals.
“They kill, extort, rape. You do not know if they are drug dealers, thugs, who want to grab everything,” he said. “We want to return peace and tranquility to the entire population. Only the people can restore order.”
