Photos: Mexican vigilante groups spring up to fight drug cartels
May 22, 2013
In this May 20, 2013 photo, an armed man belonging to a local self-defense group patrols from the back of a pick-up truck in the town of Buenavista, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, a man on a motorcycle drives past the burnt-out hulks of two trucks and a passenger bus, allegedly torched by the Knights Templar drug cartel as a warning to anyone who tries to bring reinforcements, near the town of Buenavista, Mexico. A drug cartel that takes its name from an ancient monastic order has set fire to lumber yards, packing plants and passenger buses in a medieval-like reign of terror. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, armed men belonging to a local self-defense group stand guard as a vehicle approaches at the entrance of the town of Cualcoman, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 19, 2013 photo, a mask and spikes for puncturing tires lay next to the feet of armed men from a local self-defense group as they ride in a pick-up truck near the town of La Ruana, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, men belonging to a local self-defense group enter a ranch to recover cattle allegedly stolen by the Knights Templar drug cartel near the town of Cualcoman, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, armed men belonging to a local self-defense group patrol the entrance to the town of Buenavista, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, a masked youth stands guard at the entrance of the town of Buenavista, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
Mexican army soldiers enter the town of La Ruana, Michoacan, Mexico, Monday, May 20, 2013. Residents of western Mexico towns who endured months besieged by a drug cartel are cheering the arrival of hundreds of Mexican army troops. Hundreds of people in the state of Michoacan have taken up arms to defend their villages against drug gangs, a vigilante movement born of frustration at extortion, killings and kidnappings in a region wracked by violence. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, residents cheer as soldiers enter the town of La Ruana, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. Many of the vigilante squads disappeared this week with the arrival of the army, though they vow to take up arms again as soon as the soldiers leave. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 19, 2013 photo, Hipolito Mora, leader of a local self-defense movement, stands with a side-arm as residents protest extortion fees and kidnappings by the Knights of Templar drug cartel in La Ruana, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 19, 2013 photo, armed men belonging to a local self-defense group guard the entrance of the town of La Ruana, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
Mexican army soldiers enter the town of La Ruana, Michoacan, Mexico, Monday, May 20, 2013. Residents of western Mexico towns who endured months besieged by a drug cartel are cheering the arrival of hundreds of Mexican army troops. Hundreds of people in the state of Michoacan have taken up arms to defend their villages against drug gangs, a vigilante movement born of frustration at extortion, killings and kidnappings in a region wracked by violence. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
Local self-defense squads watch as Mexican army soldiers enter the town of La Ruana, Michoacan, Mexico, Monday, May 20, 2013. Residents of western Mexico towns who endured months besieged by a drug cartel are cheering the arrival of hundreds of Mexican army troops. Hundreds of people in the state of Michoacan have taken up arms to defend their villages against drug gangs, a vigilante movement born of frustration at extortion, killings and kidnappings in a region wracked by violence. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( APTOPIX Mexico Drug War )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, a masked man belonging to a local self-defense group sits with his weapon as he guards the town of Cuemalco, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, a masked and armed man belonging to a local self-defense group stands guard in the town of Cuemalco, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, armed men belonging to a local self-defense group patrol near the town of Cualcoman, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
Portraits of missing people are displayed in Mexico City, on May 10, 2013. A group of mothers and relatives are demanding that the government investigate the disappearance of their children, which they say have gone missing due to the drug war that the government started in 2006. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images ( 519620460 )
A mother cries during a protest in Mexico City on May 10, 2013. A group of mothers and relatives of children missing due to the drug war in the country, demand to the Government the investigation of the crimes. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images ( 519619922 )
A clown takes part in a march with a group of mothers and relatives of children missing due to the drug war in the country, to demand to the Government the investigation of the crimes, in Mexico City on May 10, 2013. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images ( 519620591 )
Part of a group of mothers taking part in a hunger strike are seen in a tent in front of the Attorney General building in Mexico City on May 9, 2013. The mothers are demanding that the government investigate the disappearance of their children, which they say have gone missing due to the drug war that the government started in 2006. YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 519598554 )
A woman shows pictures of her four sons missing due to the drug war in the country, during a protest in Mexico City on May 10, 2013. A group of mothers and relatives of children and youngs missing, demand to the Government the investigation of the crimes. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images ( 519619967 )
Mothers take part in a protest in Mexico City on May 10, 2013. A group of mothers and relatives of children missing due to the drug war in the country, demand to the Government the investigation of the crimes. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP/Getty Images ( 519619990 )
In this May 20, 2013 photo, an armed man from a local self-defense group stands with his weapon at the entrance of the town of Buenavista, Mexico. Self-defense groups started to spring up in February to fight back the Knights Templar drug cartel which is extorting protection payments from cattlemen and lime growers, butchers and even marijuana growers. The federal government sees both the self-defense forces and the cartel as dangerous enemies. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ( Mexico Drug War )
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