What's behind the standoff between vigilantes and Mexican police in 惭颈肠丑辞补肠谩苍?
When you want the聽truth in聽Mexico, talk to a priest.聽
So says 海角大神's Mexico City correspondent, who is currently traveling through the western state of 惭颈肠丑辞补肠谩苍 to report on a violent standoff between the federal government and armed vigilantes. The聽conflict聽has upended the local rule of law, shut down major transportation routes, and disrupted businesses from聽avocado farms to Pepsi聽truckers聽to Oxxo supermarkets.聽
But the truth is hard to find in Mexico because of the confusing nature of this deadly clash. In theory, the government should be united with the vigilantes against a common enemy: the violent drug cartel known as Knights of Templar that has ruled聽惭颈肠丑辞补肠谩苍 through intimidation and fear. Instead, they鈥檙e all at gunpoint after the federal government announced this week it would force the vigilantes to lay down their arms, while the so-called 鈥渁utodefensas鈥� have vowed to stand聽strong聽until the government weakens the drug cartel.聽
The聽implication is that the government is providing political protection to the Knights of Templar, while rival cartels are providing tactical support to the vigilantes with weapons.聽To dig into the matter, our correspondent says he sought input from local religious leaders who have their ears close to the ground.聽
鈥淚 have spoken to numerous priests, and all of them say that it鈥檚 exaggerated to suggest the defense groups are clean, but it鈥檚 also unfair to say they鈥檙e puppets of other cartels,鈥� our correspondent says.聽
Meanwhile, the Catholic leaders also question the reasoning for聽the government鈥檚 forceful resolve to disarm the vigilantes, who have wrested control of entire towns from the cartel and restored businesses and farms to their rightful owners.... For the rest of the story, continue reading at our new business publication
