HomeNewsBriefRuling in Mexico Vigilantes Case Raises Demobilization Legal Issues
BRIEF

Ruling in Mexico Vigilantes Case Raises Demobilization Legal Issues

MEXICO / 16 JUL 2014 BY MARGUERITE CAWLEY EN

A federal judge in Mexico has ruled in favor of three vigilantes accused of carrying illegal arms on the grounds they were defending themselves in the face of the state's failure to do so, throwing a new legal obstacle in the path of attempts to dismantle illegal self-defense militias. 

In an interview with Noticias MVS, Leonel Rivero -- the lawyer of the three vigilantes from Aquila in the southwest state of Michoacan -- said the judge ruled they had defended their right to life by carrying weapons intended for the exclusive use of the military. The defendents argued the failure of the state to provide security and combat criminal groups left them with little choice but to break the law to defend themselves.

While the three men continue to be held on kidnapping charges, Rivero has said there is no chance of the arms charges being reactivated. 

The men were the alleged leaders of a group of 40 militiamen captured in August 2013, 18 of which have faced charges. Rivero accused Michoacan Security Commissioner Alfredo Castillo of interfering in judicial proceedings in the case by sending state lawyers to coax away the other 15, who Rivero was also supposed to defend, reported Proceso.

InSight Crime Analysis

Since January this year, Mexican authorities have been working to regulate the activities of the self-defense militias, which emerged with the proclaimed purpose of protecting local communities from the actions of organized crime groups such as the Knights Templar. The legalization process began with the creation of a legal framework for the vigilantes and later the formation of a "Rural Defense Force" made up of vigilantes that would work together with government security forces.

SEE ALSO: Coverage of Mexico Vigilantes 

As part of this process, all vigilantes not drawn into the new force were required to hand over their weapons. The consequences of failing to comply were made clear in late June, when vigilante leader Jose Manuel Mireles was arrested along with dozens of others after taking over a Michoacan town. 

However, the government has faced significant public resistance to the dismantling of unauthorized vigilante groups, and the present case shows they may also have trouble prosecuting non-compliant vigilantes. If the government is unable to make the legal cases against arrested vigilantes hold up, it is a sign they have little control over the movement and thus puts the legalization process at risk. 

Security analyst Alejandro Hope told InSight Crime that the case represented a "symbolic... defeat of the federal government." It did not, however, set a legal precedent for future cases -- five consecutive sentences of a similar nature would have to be issued in order for this to happen, he said. 

While the present case could be appealed by the Attorney General's Office, this is unlikely to happen, said Hope, partly because the government will want to avoid further stoking the fire in a high-tension issue. 

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

BELTRAN LEYVA ORG / 7 JAN 2022

Murders have spiked in Mexico's northern state of Sonora, thanks to the volatile mix of a veteran drug trafficker's alleged…

FENTANYL / 21 MAR 2023

The complex history of the "drug war" in Mexico is hindering its collaboration with the US on the synthetic opioid,…

ARMS TRAFFICKING / 7 MAR 2022

Authorities in Mexico recently seized an historic amount of high-powered weapons and ammunition in a northern border state, laying bare…

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Continues to be Highlighted

3 MAR 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-director Jeremy McDermott was the featured guest on the Americas Quarterly podcast, where he provided an expert overview of the changing dynamics…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela's Organized Crime Top 10 Attracts Attention

24 FEB 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published its ranking of Venezuela’s ten organized crime groups to accompany the launch of the Venezuela Organized Crime Observatory. Read…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime on El País Podcast

10 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime co-founder, Jeremy McDermott, was among experts featured in an El País podcast on the progress of Colombia’s nascent peace process.

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime Interviewed by Associated Press

3 FEB 2023

This week, InSight Crime’s Co-director Jeremy McDermott was interviewed by the Associated Press on developments in Haiti as the country continues its prolonged collapse. McDermott’s words were republished around the world,…

THE ORGANIZATION

Escaping Barrio 18

27 JAN 2023

Last week, InSight Crime published an investigation charting the story of Desafío, a 28-year-old Barrio 18 gang member who is desperate to escape gang life. But there’s one problem: he’s…