65 Autodefensas of Michoacán Have Been Released

By: Camila Luna/Luis Felipe Rosiles

Alfredo Castillo Cervantes, the Commissioner for Security and Development of Michoacán, announced that to date, 65 members of the autodefensas from the tenure Felipe Carrillo Puerto, belonging to the municipality of Buenavista Tomatlán, have been released.

This is a part of the agreements that the autodefensas had with the government of Mexico which required liberating all of the detained autodefensas, detained since February 2013 for carrying weapons, by May 10.

In this sense, Castillo Cervantes, pointed out that all of the civil guards from La Ruana who were detained for carrying a weapons used exclusively by the Mexican Army, have been released.

However, there are still 50 people who are being further processed for other serious crimes whom will continue their processes according to law.

Those released include: 49 autodefensas who were transferred to the prison of Apatzingán, 11 to CERESO (Social Rehabilitation Center) of La Piedad, and five to the CERESO David Franco Rodríguez.

The Commissioner also highlighted the advances that have been made just one week into the process of registering which include since Tuesday morning: 4,551 arms registered and 2,286 requests for membership for the rurales force.

Also, 180 people are working on their studies and tests of conditioning and training.  The Commissioner expected that 500 people will be trained to be part of the rurales force by May 10.

Alfredo Castillo also denied the existence of a newly formed cartel during an interview with Denise Maerker on Radio Fórmula after some in the media made it known that there was a split in the autodefensas that led to a cartel called “La Tercera Hermandad or  H3 (The Third Brotherhood)”, led by Simón El Americano and recognized as such by intelligence sources.

He also noted to the press that there would not be an extension to the registration of weapons in the state.

Sources:Quadratin, Milenio, Michoacán 3.0, Cambio de Michoacán