Jalisco, Mexico's most militarily powerful drug gang, has started organizing townspeople to act as human shields against army troops, which now only attempt to keep rival cartels apart.
"If they try to come in here again, we'll put 2,000 people out here to stop them," announced Habacuc Solorzano, a 39-year-old farmer who leads the civilian movement connected to the cartel. His statement, like most of what comes out of the Jalisco side, is not mere boasting: He already had roughly 500 local residents marching last week— then wading across a river — to face an army squad blocking a dirt road leading out of Jalisco territory.
Residents of Aguililla are fed up with the army's plan of simply separating the Jalisco and the Michoacan-based Viagras gang. The army policy effectively enables the Viagras — best known for kidnapping and extorting money — to establish roadblocks and checkpoints that have choked off all commerce with Aguililla. Limes and cattle heading out, or supplies heading in, must pay a war tax to the Viagras.
TECH GIANTS JOIN FORCES WITH DHS IN HERCULEAN BATTLE AGAINST CHILD EXPLOITATION
"We'd rather be killed by you than killed by those criminals!" one demonstrator yelled at soldiers throughout a tense, hour-long confrontation between demonstrators and a squad of a dozen troops who took cover behind a barricade of car tires. Many of the demonstrators carried rocks and powerful slingshots, though did not use them.
HORRIFIC FOOTAGE EMERGES: FRANTIC RESCUE EFFORTS AFTER RUSSIAN MISSILES HIT UKRAINIAN CITY (WATCH)
The residents want the army to either fight both cartels or at least let the two gangs battle.
"Let the two cartels fight it out and kill each other," another demonstrator yelled. "Jalisco is going to beat everybody!"
That view is widespread. "What we need is for one cartel to take control, stop the fighting and impose some semblance of calm," said a local priest. "Everything indicates that group is the Jalisco cartel."
HIGH-STAKES SUMMIT: G7 MULLS SANCTIONS ON IRAN, WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?
Above all, what residents want is for the Viagras' checkpoints to be cleared and the road opened again. Because they have to pass through those roadblocks from time to time, none of the residents wanted to give their names for fear of reprisals.
WATCH: NEWT GINGRICH'S APPROACH TO "DEATH TO AMERICA" CHANTS
Yet, one explained it this way to the army squad: "The only road into Aguililla is blocked and controlled by a cartel that is only 500 yards away from you, and you (the army) are not doing anything to protect our right to travel freely," he announced. "You don't know how hard it is to be paying a war tax that is being used to kill us."
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
