Mexico legitimizes vigilante groups

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The Mexican government announced a plan to formally recognize Mexican vigilante groups who have been waging war on drug cartels.

President Enrique Peña Nieto announced that vigilante groups, after passing standard Mexican law enforcement tests, may apply to joint the government-sanctioned Rural Defense Corps.

Following the government's arrest of prominent Knights Templar drug cartel leader Dionicio Loya Plancarte "El Tio," Interior Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong disparaged the role of vigilante groups in a speech to Mexican lawmakers.

Shortly after his remarks, the government announced the legalization and institutionalization of the vigilante groups. "These units will be temporary and will be under the control of the authorities... to cooperate with the troops in the activities that these carry out and when required by the military command."

Vigilante groups -- also known as "auto-defense" groups -- were borne out of frustration over the government's inefficiency in combating Mexican drug cartels. In January, vigilantes in the western state of Michoacan attempted to wrestle away control of the Tierra Caliente region from the Knights Templar. The government had previously called on the vigilante groups to disarm.

[CNN] [BBC]