"Stop Autodefensas or innocents will die" warned Cablleros Templarios

Borderland Beat

Residents now confident took up arms to guard the city after the takeover

"Siete Siete"

Apatzingán, Michoacán - The wait had been long when the Community Police heard the voice of the Siete siete [Seven seven] on the radio. They paid attention and invited some journalists to listen to the harangue given by the one whom they identified as head of The Caballeros Templarios, Knights Templar) gunmen.

Siete siete or El pantera [The panther] gave instructions to his soldiers and threatened the government:

"We are not going from here. Here we stay. The people of Apatzingán don't want self-defense groups."

A resident of Apatzingán who had recently joined the movement, said that the voice of thunder was Juan Aibar Mendoza. Then Juan, El pantera, switched his focus:

"This is for you, gentlemen of the Mexican Army and Federal Police: don't let the self-defense groups advance any further. We aren't responsible for all the deaths of innocent people that may occur."

While the cartel leader threatened, some residents responded to him with insults. They shook their cudgels and shouted cries of their loyalty:

"Long Live Caballeros Templarios ! Long Live Michoacán!"

"Sons of bitches! The devil appeared to you, dogs. You can't continue advancing, because we are going to start with your mother."

Video: The Day Caballeros Templarios Lost Their Jewel

Massacre of Day Laborers

Siete siete's criminal history is longer than there are grains of sands in the sea. He is, for example, implicated in the slaughter of day laborers that occurred last April 10, when a commando attacked lime cutters [harvesting limes] who, unarmed, were returning from an event in which they approached Acting Governor, Jesús Reyna, to demand public security.

But Siete siete shows himself to be pious:

"If you force us, you are going to undergo many things. We have been respectful , but if you continue supporting and advancing, we no longer respond. May God bless you all."

Lemon pickers slaughtered by Templarios

Community residents continue cursing their radios, but The Templarios were not finished:

"When I say that the party starts, it's going to begin. All of you already know what you have to do. I also have sticks (of dynamite) everywhere, just so that you know."

A chorus answered him by a small radio equipment:

"When you give the word, viejón [slang for mature man], we start breaking heads with the self-defense groups."

"When you give the order, we are going to come down on everyone. Long Live the Michoacán guard, compañeros!"

Other laced their loyalty with profanities, which was not to the boss's liking:

"Please, compañeros, brothers, don't disrespect anyone. Behave like gentlemen. If a community resident is speaking, just let him speak, please, gentlemen."

One of the men in a self-defense group chimed in:

"Are the [dynamite] holes for those you like? In order to comport yourself like a gentleman? In order to kill innocent people?"

Siete siete:

"You are allowing this. The military guys are causing this, and so it's going to be. That's how it goes, they die who are killing us."

Comandante Cinco disconnects, without paying attention to The Templarios Manual de Carreño

"Well, you're going to die, son of a bitch, you're gonna die."

"Don't Go Around Displaying Weapons"
Commandante Cinco:

Things aren't going well for Commandante Cinco. He's tired of talking with his counterparts in other pueblos to demand, rather than ask, that none dare to enter the city center "without permission."

"Hang on, Patancha, I want your weapons hidden. Don't walk around exhibiting them. If armed people go around without permission, you are going to be arrested," Comandante Cinco warns via his cell phone.

This is what he was doing when they informed him that Hipólito Mora, the first man to rise up in arms in Tierra Caliente, had already arrived at the city center. The plan to enter together is finished.

"The old bastard!" he mutters and turns to start the entry via his cell phone.

Mora had indeed arrived at the cathedral, unarmed and with a bulletproof vest, on top of which he wore the white T-shirt of the priest Gregorio López (at left): Cristos. "Responsible Citizens Council Fostering Healthy Fabric of the Social Order" is the clever name of the [priest's] organization [Spanish acronym].

Early on, the self-defense groups began to take control of the entrances to the city, while the Army and Federal Police stepped up their tours through the streets and roads, always accompanied by helicopters.

At one point, there were a hundred pickup trucks; at other points only a dozen. But in all cases, the self-defense groups were sheltered by the Federal Police and, for the first time in several weeks, by police forces of the state of Michoacán.

As the hours passed and the heat rose, the initial enthusiasm of the self-defense groups was diluted. The largest self-defense groups congregated on the highway from Tepalcatepec, sheltered in the open air from the hot sun by shade provided by lime trees. For hours they were accompanied by Federal Police who then left without any explanation.

In the streets the common scene was of caravans of vehicles full of well-armed agents who were not alone: with them were two or three self-defense members serving as guides.

"They are going to burst into houses," said their compañeros, the colloquial expression for raiding the houses of presumed Templars.

With all the good relationship, the day was being consumed without getting permission to enter the main square.

"The Government Knows How Dangerous This Movement Is"

Here in Apatzingán the only town mayor who, according to his counterparts in the region, had never paid a fee to The Knights Templar was in charge--or he was in charge until the federal forces arrived.

"Well, how was he going to pay, if he is the nephew of El Chayo," asked a self-defense member while waiting for the order to advance from 5 kilometers [3 miles]from the city center.

Uriel Chávez  Mayor of Apatzingán, ( nephew of El Chayo) 

His name is Uriel Chávez and today, while in his municipality he didn't yield to the whooshing of helicopters overhead, he wrote on social networks:

"Lord, I thank You that You have allowed me to complete one more year of life, and You have granted me the grace to celebrate with my family and loved ones. Although this past year has been difficult, I know they are tests that You put before us on the path ... "

As seen on his Facebook page, few congratulated him. Instead, one of his Facebook friends demanded that he put his pants on and not allow that in Apatzingán "the self-defense rats" go about freely.

Padre Goyo the hero priest says he must leave the country

Nowhere did it go well for Mr. Mayor. As night fell, at a rally in the main square led by Hipólito Mora, the ouster of Uriel Chávez from the mayor's office was added to the citizens' list of demands.

The outraged citizens didn't understand that their city mayor's only aspiration was to get in step with the federal government, which on this day, amid the scandal over the federal commissioner's meetings with a drug dealer, dedicated its posts about Michoacán to emphasizing the beauty of Pátzcuaro and the wonder of the monarch butterfly.

"That Michoacán might once again be in the eyes of the world for the quality of its artisans," the Presidency of the Republic broadcast to the networks.

Night was falling when Hipólito Mora was hailed as a hero and gave a short speech, a coarse shout in the main square. The lime grower asked local residents to trust the authorities and report neighbors who are members of organized crime.

"We are relying on you, not the government!" shouted a man.

Hipólito explained:

"The government knows how dangerous this movement is, and that's why it's working well."
For now, the rooster will sing a different song this Sunday, according to residents. The occupation of Apatzingán ended with Mass and a rally.

Federal forces quickly added some detainees to their rapidly growing list--including a brother of Kike Plancarte--and life went on, with all businesses open, except for some shops set afire a few weeks ago by the so-called Templars.

In a street leading to the square, shopkeepers took advantage of the trip to invite everyone to a dance on February 14th. A huge banner announces the theme:

"Let's make love, not war."

Source: Jornada with English Translation by Jane Brundage