Michoacán: Contrary to Castillo's claim, Federal Police gunned down 16 unarmed civilians

Lucio R. Borderland Beat republished from Animal Politico with material from Aristegui

A journalistic investigation reveals that at least 16 people were killed by federal police on January 6, in Apatzingán Michoacán

Witnesses report weapons were planted after the attack-click to enlarge

"One of the autodefensa fell to his knees and was kneeling with hands folded in the nape of the neck; He told them that they had no weapons and pleaded with the Feds that they not shoot, but loud shots rang out and he fell dead from three bullets.”

A journalistic investigation reveals that at least 16 unarmed people were killed by federal police on January 6, in Apatzingán Michoacán

Members of the autodefensa forces of Michoacán were killed in Apatzingan on January 6 by elements of the Federal Police. Their deaths were not because of the "cross-fire", as had been assured by former Michoacán security commissioner, Alfredo Castillo. This was revealed in a report supported by 50 interviews, death certificates, and audio recordings in the investigation by the Mexican journalist Laura Castellanos.

One of the witnesses to the attack said that his companions were unarmed when they were attacked by the police, who had been ordered them to raise their hands and kneel.

"We were in a state of confusion and heard nothing else after we heard the officers say, "kill those dogs, kill them all!"

Castellanos says, federal elements left the wounded to bleed without calling for help for over an hour. If an ambulance had been dispatched to transfer the victims for medical care, there would have been fewer fatalities, the hospital was less than a half mile from the scene.

The report indicates that the director of the hospital, Carlos Torres Vega, explained that the authorities blocked the transfer of the wounded.

"The Feds prevented the departure of the boys, even though they were not being detained".

(The 16 minute video below has important and detailed information. We are searching for someone that has time to translate)

More than three months after the events, the National Safety Commission announced this past Saturday that there will be an investigation into Apatzingán, following receiving, anonymously,

"a video which we can infer alleged acts of excessive use of force or abuse of authority by members of the Federal Police, in the town of Apatzingán".

The Commission reported that notice was given to the Attorney General's Office (PGR) and the unit of Internal Affairs of the Federal Police to initiate investigations and "define or determine any responsibility against public servants."

However, it does not mention the date of this occurring.

The incident occurred on 6 January and the victims were members of a autodefensa (self-defense) group that aimed to stop the leader of the cartel of the Caballeros Templarios, (KnightsTemplar), Servando Gómez, alias "Tuta", who was subsequently arrested on 27 February.

According to the investigation, the victims were protesting the dissolution of the group ordered by Alfredo Castillo, who was then Commissioner for safety and the Integral Development of Michoacán. They also asked for compensation pay, for their services in the search for "La Tuta".

About the shooting, Castillo said; "almost all people could have been executed by his own comrades, that is, by a matter of cross-fire, and there are only two people who both received impacts wounds from Federal Police but they also received impacts from the civil group". (meaning the two could have been killed by either the federal police or the unarmed AD who had only sticks and pipes in their vehicles)

"It is impossible to determine which of those bullets killed them, (this is the _____ who was able to determine Hipolito’s son Manuel’s weapon caused most of the killings in the December shootout)

But the evidence will make clear that the both vehicles and bodies both have bullet impacts in the front and in the back, and the Federal Police would not have shot these people in the back.”

“There is no evidence of that. ."He added.

Two weeks after the shooting occurred in Apatzingán, Castillo left his office, while the local control of the Federal Police, was with Fausto Arenas.

After the report, the journalist Laura Castellanos said she has been harassed, so she is now under the accompaniment of the organization, Article 19, which defends Journalists.

A day after the fact, on 7 of January, a witness said that three people unarmed and with their hands on the nape of the neck were executed by federal forces.

"One of the autodefensa fell to his knees and was kneeling with hands in the nape of the neck; He said that they had no weapons and pleaded with the Feds that they not shoot, but loud shots rang out and he fell dead from three bullets.”