Templarios

Alex,did you see the article in todays LATimes,"Mexico's vigilante movement has a strong US connection"the photo of the ex LA gangbanger turned autodefensa,Cauhtemoc Espejo,demanding IDs from bus passengers in Apatzingan was interesting..

Thanks for the tip, Viajero. I just took a look at the article. It reminded me that former Templarios boss El Chayo learned about gangs and gang warfare during the years in which he lived in California. I know you're too lazy to post links so I'll do it for you. From the L.A. Times...

http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-vigilantes-20140602-story.html

And I'll add this one. From Insight Crime...

US Gangs, Mexico Cartels Partner: Sign of the Future?

http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/us-gangs-mexico-cartels-partner-sign-of-the-future

Pedro wrote:or a counter to gummint sponsored spin doctoring?

It wasn't an interesting interview, pedro, IMO. It just covered the same things Mireles has said in other interviews. No new revelations or accusations. I expected more.

I guess it's been kinda quiet in Michoacan of late. There were a few shootouts at scattered checkpoints but nothing like the shocking event in Chuquiapan. Nobody of importance has been arrested. And the search for La Tuta continues.

Meanwhile, Hipolito Mora has taken his place as a proud member of the Fuerza Rural. Here's a pic of him in uniform.

" />

Mora was recently interviewed for an article in La Jornada. He really didn't have much to say but he did address an issue that has been discussed in this thread. Here's an excerpt.

La Jornada:  Did you negotiate with the government to get out of jail?

HM:  "No.  They didn't find any evidence against me.  There were many people who were  interested in my staying in jail. But they could not [legally]  keep me there."

You can read an English translation of the complete interview on Borderland Beat. In the interests of full disclosure, it should be pointed out that the interviewer, Sanjuana Martinez, has close ties to Mr. Mireles and the Autodefensas movement. Ms. Martinez is a member of Mireles' Yo Soy Autodefensas organization and recently appeared as a panelist at the Autodefensas convention in Mexico City. From La Jornada...

http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2014/06/auc-leader-hipolito-mora-i-was.html#more

In the interest of full disclosure it should be pointed out that the organization "Autodefensas Ciudadanas contra la Inseguridad e Impunidad" is a group formed of social activists from many different areas of the country and many different professions. Such people as poet Javier Sicilia, head of the Movimiento por la Paz con Justicia y Dignidad and others who are fighting against diverse causes such as human rights, anti-kidnapping, human trafficing, etc.  Some represent the church, some are ex-politicians and some are academics.

Sanjuana Martinez is a well repected and published author who works for the prestigious publications Proceso and La Jornada. She is known for her work against human trafficking.

It should also be pointed out that this is NOT an armed group but a pacifist organization dedicated to social justice. They are not directly tied to the autodefensas in Michoacan.

One more thing, I was called away earlier and didn't have time to finish. Is there an organization "Yo soy autodefensa", is it Mireles organization and does the journalist Sanjuana Martinez belong to said organization?

From Revolucion...

#YoSoyAutodefensa: A crusade against impunity, corruption and injustice

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Frevoluciontrespuntocero.com%2Fyosoyautodefensa-una-cruzada-contra-la-impunidad-la-corrupcion-y-la-injusticia%2F

Smartalex wrote:From Revolucion...

#YoSoyAutodefensa: A crusade against impunity, corruption and injustice

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Frevoluciontrespuntocero.com%2Fyosoyautodefensa-una-cruzada-contra-la-impunidad-la-corrupcion-y-la-injusticia%2F

Actually the movement is called "Autodefensas Ciudadanas contra la Inseguridad e Impunidad" or "Frente Nacional de Autodefensas" and it is not Mireles organization as was claimed a few posts ago. There are social media accounts by the names #YoSoyAutodefensa" and #TodosSomosAutodefensas" and the terms have basically become a slogan or rallying cry for the national movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeWs8pYFt0s

In communicating with a number of Michoacan residents (both Mexican & foreign), I have been getting a "vibe" that they are waiting for the next shoe to drop and they are not just referring to the region that has seen the most trouble.

I picked up the following news story this morning:
http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dinformador%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DbQv%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26channel%3Dsb&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=es&u=http://www.informador.com.mx/mexico/2014/531645/6/matan-a-lider-del-pri-de-erongaricuaro-michoacan.htm&usg=ALkJrhg1khTIVE22E81aBVlaHXTwkttZDQ
For those that haven't visited the area, Erongarícuaro is a small town that sits on the highway that runs down the western side of Lake Patzcuaro and is 20 minutes or so outside of Patzcuaro. The article has one glaring error where it states that Erongarícuaro is about 300km from Morelia - 75km would be more accurate. We have been through there numerous times and never felt any tension. Besides one of our favorite restaurants, Campestre Aleman is just outside of town.

Jeff Raybourne wrote:

Smartalex wrote:From Revolucion...

#YoSoyAutodefensa: A crusade against impunity, corruption and injustice

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Frevoluciontrespuntocero.com%2Fyosoyautodefensa-una-cruzada-contra-la-impunidad-la-corrupcion-y-la-injusticia%2F

Actually the movement is called "Autodefensas Ciudadanas contra la Inseguridad e Impunidad" or "Frente Nacional de Autodefensas" and it is not Mireles organization as was claimed a few posts ago. There are social media accounts by the names #YoSoyAutodefensa" and #TodosSomosAutodefensas" and the terms have basically become a slogan or rallying cry for the national movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeWs8pYFt0s

Clarify this...

Javier Sicilia no convocó a la creación del Frente Nacional de Autodefensas

http://movimientoporlapaz.mx/es/2014/05/14/javier-sicilia-no-convoco-a-la-creacion-del-frente-nacional-de-autodefensas/

Google Translation:

Javier Sicilia did not call for the creation of the National Front of Self-Defense

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fmovimientoporlapaz.mx%2Fes%2F2014%2F05%2F14%2Fjavier-sicilia-no-convoco-a-la-creacion-del-frente-nacional-de-autodefensas%2F

El Presidente Pena has been on a goodwill tour of Europe, trying to drum up new business investment for Mexico. Of course, potential business investors want to know about the security situation at home. In order to reassure the international business community that his security policies are working, Pena points out that violent crime is down 12 percent year-to-year and down 25 percent for the first quarter of this year.

Of course, the accuracy of his figures is a matter of debate since the EPN regime uses different criteria for accumulating these statistics than the previous Calderon regime. Under Calderon, crime figures were purposely inflated. Their thinking was that the higher the crime rate, the more aid they would receive from the U.S. for public security. Under Pena, the thinking is that the lower the crime rate, the more business investment the country will receive internationally. Any comparison between the two sets of statistics is meaningless.

Here are Pena's comments about he current status of crime in Mexico. From Informador...


Peña presume baja en la inseguridad en México

http://www.informador.com.mx/mexico/2014/532167/6/pena-presume-baja-en-la-inseguridad-en-mexico.htm

Google Translation:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.informador.com.mx%2Fmexico%2F2014%2F532167%2F6%2Fpena-presume-baja-en-la-inseguridad-en-mexico.htm

Smartalex wrote:El Presidente Pena has been on a goodwill tour of Europe,

Yeah,I heard on the news today that he gave the Pope a statue of the Virgin de Guadalupe,but it was a blonde version of La Morenita...go figure...

viajero wrote:

Smartalex wrote:El Presidente Pena has been on a goodwill tour of Europe,

Yeah,I heard on the news today that he gave the Pope a statue of the Virgin de Guadalupe,but it was a blonde version of La Morenita...go figure...

Here's a pic...

" />

They also have a virginde Guadalupesomewhere in France..sorry but I forget the city

Smartalex wrote:

Here's a pic...

" />

Hecho en China?

During the last presidential campaign, Mr. Pena pledged that his regime would be dedicated to reducing the toll of casualties in the war against the drug cartels. Perhaps he is making good on that pledge. From Insight Crime...

Falling Death Toll in Mexico Military Operations Reflects New Tactics

http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/falling-death-toll-in-mexico-military-operations-reflects-new-tactics

viajero wrote:We haven't heard from the OP of this thread, Slainte39, in a while,is he on one of his trips to Ireland sitting in a pub sipping Guiness?

V.....    you got that right!!! LOL....sitting in a pub in Tullamore, County Offaly....celebrating avoiding the IRA hideouts after getting lost in the Slieve Bloom mountains. These guys are into drugs AND diesel fuel cleansing/bootlegging AND politics AND no sense of humour.
But I'm enjoying following the banter and arguments you guys are providing which as usual, is more about personalities than issues.
Keep up the good work guys as my Irish relations and friends are confused about "who's on first" in Mexico, which is probably more my fault than theirs, for not being able to explain it properly.
Now ask me how Guinness on draught compares with the canned stuff sold at Paz Licorería.
  (canned stuff)

Slainte!!!

They say Guiness doesn't travel well.
Good to hear from you amigo!!  

viajero wrote:They say Guiness doesn't travel well.
Good to hear from you amigo!!  

"Guinness doesn't travel well"....how true!....and neither do I.
That 12 hour flight from Mexico City to London and the 1 hour plus flights from GDL to MC and London to Dublin are killers for an old body.
Ahhhh....but then then the sweet joys of the black stuff and uisce beatha.      Not to mention scones, rashers, crubeens, and drisheen.
And then there is the Irish version of Mexican food, which, shall we say, is interesting.
Also, other Mexicans turn up in some of the damnest places in Ireland.    Spanish with a brogue.

Sorry old pals...Alex, Pedro, and Jeff to hijack your thread but I wish I could take your act down the road to Moneygall (O'Bama's ancestral home town) and let the lads there opine about it all. The Irish have opinions on everything, and the best ones are on subjects they know nothing about.

slainte39 wrote:

viajero wrote:They say Guiness doesn't travel well.
Good to hear from you amigo!!  

"Guinness doesn't travel well"....how true!....and neither do I.
That 12 hour flight from Mexico City to London and the 1 hour plus flights from GDL to MC and London to Dublin are killers for an old body.
Ahhhh....but then then the sweet joys of the black stuff and uisce beatha.      Not to mention scones, rashers, crubeens, and drisheen.
And then there is the Irish version of Mexican food, which, shall we say, is interesting.
Also, other Mexicans turn up in some of the damnest places in Ireland.    Spanish with a brogue.

Sorry old pals...Alex, Pedro, and Jeff to hijack your thread but I wish I could take your act down the road to Moneygall (O'Bama's ancestral home town) and let the lads there opine about it all. The Irish have opinions on everything, and the best ones are on subjects they know nothing about.

You talking up the food....what's the favourite local potato now?

Wish we could get Irish seed spuds in Canada.

Hey, Slainte, good to hear from ya! We miss you. When ya returning to the new sod?

arbon wrote:

slainte39 wrote:

viajero wrote:They say Guiness doesn't travel well.
Good to hear from you amigo!!  

"Guinness doesn't travel well"....how true!....and neither do I.
That 12 hour flight from Mexico City to London and the 1 hour plus flights from GDL to MC and London to Dublin are killers for an old body.
Ahhhh....but then then the sweet joys of the black stuff and uisce beatha.      Not to mention scones, rashers, crubeens, and drisheen.
And then there is the Irish version of Mexican food, which, shall we say, is interesting.
Also, other Mexicans turn up in some of the damnest places in Ireland.    Spanish with a brogue.

Sorry old pals...Alex, Pedro, and Jeff to hijack your thread but I wish I could take your act down the road to Moneygall (O'Bama's ancestral home town) and let the lads there opine about it all. The Irish have opinions on everything, and the best ones are on subjects they know nothing about.

You talking up the food....what's the favourite local potato now?

Wish we could get Irish seed spuds in Canada.

The Irish potato, of course. They are selling them by the sacks full along the road sides (along with Wexford strawberries). The thick cut Irish potato chips....have them at least once, sometimes twice a day...just to wash down the Guinness.   

delete

slainte39 wrote:The Irish have opinions on everything, and the best ones are on subjects they know nothing about.

That is outstanding. And so useful. Simply delete "Irish" and insert at will. Thank you!   

Let's take a look at one of the more colorful characters in this story..."Broly Banderas." Broly claims to be a Templario assassin. He taunts the Autodefensas on Facebook and in the comments section of Borderland Beat. Haven't heard anything from him lately. He may have been killed in a shootout.

Broly's Facebook page...

https://www.facebook.com/broly.banderasbanderas.1?fref=ts

Interview with Broly...

http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2014/01/an-interview-with-broly-banderas.html

Broly's babes...

http://narcconoticias.blogspot.mx/2013/10/broly-banderas-sicario-de-los.html

Rosa Venus wrote:

slainte39 wrote:The Irish have opinions on everything, and the best ones are on subjects they know nothing about.

That is outstanding. And so useful. Simply delete "Irish" and insert at will. Thank you!   

yes. very useful. gracias slainte39