NYT: Town expels cops, takes loggers hostage - World news - The New York Times - NBCNews.com
I thought this was pretty interesting.
Looks like the people of this town had enough of being terrorized by organized crime and their cries for help being ignored by the their governmen and the police:
"Cherán’s residents said they had been subjected to multiple episodes of rape, kidnapping, extortion and murder by the paramilitary loggers, who have devastated an estimated 70 percent of the surrounding oak forests that sustained the town’s economy and indigenous culture for centuries . . ."
"In the months since then, Cherán’s townspeople have established a simple but effective internal protection system. There are fewer bonfires today, but several remain active and a security patrol of residents, or “ronda,” keeps watch at all times. Armed townspeople — from middle-age men to teenage girls — guard the barricades blocking all entrances into town. Their weapons are AR15 assault rifles, seized from the police when they expelled them."
Residents guard the entrance to the village of Cheran, Mexico, July 24, 2012. The residents of the town have been in control of the area for over a year after expelling the local police and fighting off illegal loggers who were supported by a criminal organization
I thought this was pretty interesting.
Looks like the people of this town had enough of being terrorized by organized crime and their cries for help being ignored by the their governmen and the police:
"Cherán’s residents said they had been subjected to multiple episodes of rape, kidnapping, extortion and murder by the paramilitary loggers, who have devastated an estimated 70 percent of the surrounding oak forests that sustained the town’s economy and indigenous culture for centuries . . ."
"In the months since then, Cherán’s townspeople have established a simple but effective internal protection system. There are fewer bonfires today, but several remain active and a security patrol of residents, or “ronda,” keeps watch at all times. Armed townspeople — from middle-age men to teenage girls — guard the barricades blocking all entrances into town. Their weapons are AR15 assault rifles, seized from the police when they expelled them."
Residents guard the entrance to the village of Cheran, Mexico, July 24, 2012. The residents of the town have been in control of the area for over a year after expelling the local police and fighting off illegal loggers who were supported by a criminal organization
