Kidnapping of Farmers in Guerrero Sparks Outrage

Activists in Mexico are raising alarms over the abduction of more than 100 farmers in Guerrero, a region notorious for cartel activity. They accuse La Familia Michoacana of holding these individuals to coerce the local population into allowing the cartel to set up operations in the area.

In a recent online interview, Father Filiberto Velazquez, who leads the Minerva Bello Center for Victims of Violence, highlighted the kidnappings and criticized the cartel’s ability to evade government security measures.

Details surrounding the mass kidnappings remain somewhat murky. However, the situation gained attention as farmers in Guerrero protested, demanding the release of seven individuals who had been captured and held hostage for over three weeks. These protests seemingly prompted a response from the Mexican government, which deployed military-led search teams. After a period of exerted pressure, six of the kidnapped farmers were eventually freed.

Yet, according to Velazquez, those who were released shared alarming accounts of being taken to a location where over 100 other kidnapping victims were also held captive. They reported that, in response to military searches, cartel members frequently moved the hostages between various sites, cleverly staying ahead of law enforcement.

The released farmers described harrowing experiences, facing both physical and psychological abuse, including beatings and death threats during their captivity. Velazquez noted that since their return, local government officials have largely ignored the issue, leaving the farmers to fend for their medical needs without any support.

The kidnappings appear to be part of La Familia Michoacana’s efforts to seize land for a base in the rural area known as El Bajon de Ajuchitlan. The community has resisted these efforts, which has led to a brutal strategy involving abductions, aimed at dismantling this resistance, and even pressuring some farmers to align with the cartel.