Governor Jara says, Castillo's work in Michoacan is "Muy Bueno"

by Lucio for Borderland Beat Material from Michoacan 3.0

Jara and Castillo

This will be news to the citizens of Michoacán, but Governor Jara says Commissioner Castillo has curbed crime in the state.

The governor of Michoacán, Salvador Jara Guerrero, assessed the work of Alfredo Castillo Cervantes, commissioner for Security and Integral Development in the state,  as being "very good".  This despite the  demands of  many calling for Castillo's resignation and  departure from Michoacán.

At a press conference, the governor reported  that since joining the executive branch, (as governor)  he has experienced good coordination with the envoy of the Federation, and mentioned that now there was no presence of organized crime in some municipalities due to security strategy that was implemented in early 2014. 

However, he did not mention the names of those organized crime  free municipalities.

Although residents and Michoacán  entrepreneurs have reported the presence of organized crime, monitoring the collection of fees, extortion, kidnapping, forced disappearances, among other crimes, Jara said that thanks to Castillo, the change has been "radical" in the state and is something that it should be recognized.

He said that in the Tierra Caliente there are still problems of crime and they continue working to solve them, although he acknowledged that it will not be an easy job, because the social deterioration had occurred over a 10 year period.

He also blamed the "culture of Michoacán", the reason that violence persists in the state, since there is no respect for human life in many regions, so, he warns, false expectations should not be made that all the problems will be fixed in the brevity.

This love fest was short, the photo was taken prior to Hipolito Mora 

again being imprisoned.  From left to right Castillo, Mora and Jara

It is noteworthy that the governor refused to delve into the topic of the 10 people executed in Apatzingán, at the hands of the Federal Police on January 6. 

According to the “official version”, a group of armed civilians attacked rural forces, the casualties were; 8 deaths, 6 of whom died in crossfire. (other accounts say 11)

Also noteworthy, is that every report issued on violence and criminality in Michoacán, during the time Castillo has been working towards security in Michoacán, the state has registered a sharp increase in all but one category,  some increases are the highest in 6 years. 

Comparing homicide figures from 2013 to 2014 in the same time period, beginning when Castillo arrived, had an increase of 8%.

Dr. Mireles far right, hooded and handcuffed

Critics say that Castillo was sent to Michoacan on a mission to disrupt the successful and growing autodefensas movement, and defuse the power of its strongest leader, Dr. Manuel Mireles.  In that respect Castillo has been effective.

Jara replaced Governor Fausto after Fausto’s son, “Gerber”,  was arrested suspected of having ties with Caballeros Templarios.  Jara’s appearance at the press conference was a rare one, the governor is seldom seen, provoking questions of who is really making decisions in the governor’s office.