Photos: Self-defense against cartels in Mexico’s Michoacan state
July 30, 2013
Armed members of a recently formed self-defense group stand with their guns at a roadblock at the entrance to the town of Aguililla, Mexico, Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Mexico's rough western state of Michoacan, where the towns of Aguililla and Aquila are located, is proving just as tough a thorn in the side of President Enrique Pena Nieto as it was for his predecessor after gunmen believed to be working for the Knights Templar cartel launched a coordinated series of a half-dozen ambushes on federal police convoys last Tuesday and another self-defense group has sprung up to fight against the Knights Templar.(AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( Mexico Drug War )
A young man, who identifies himself as M3, speaks to the press in the town of Aguililla, Mexico, Thursday, July 25, 2013. The 18-year-old, who claims on a video posted on a national newspaper website, that he is a former Templar Knights gunman who deserted the cartel and joined the ranks of the Aguililla self-defense group because he was disgusted with the way the Templar Knights treat the community. (AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( Mexico Drug War )
A masked and armed member of a recently formed self-defense group walks in a dirt road at the entrance to the town of Aguililla, Mexico, Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Mexico's rough western state of Michoacan is proving just as tough a thorn in the side of President Enrique Pena Nieto as it was for his predecessor after gunmen believed to be working for the Knights Templar cartel launched a coordinated series of a half-dozen ambushes on federal police convoys last Tuesday and another self-defense group has sprung up to fight against the Knights Templar.(AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( Mexico Drug War )
Mexican army vehicles drive past an armed member of a local self-defense group wearing a white T-shirt with the slogan 'For a Free Aquila' in the town of Aquila, Mexico, early Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Mexico's rough western state of Michoacan, where Aquila is located, is proving just as tough a thorn in the side of President Enrique Pena Nieto as it was for his predecessor after gunmen believed to be working for the Knights Templar cartel launched a coordinated series of a half-dozen ambushes on federal police convoys last Tuesday followed by yet another self-defense group that has sprung up to fight against the Knights Templar. (AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( CORRECTION Mexico Drug War )
A Mexican army soldier talks to armed members of a local self-defense group wearing white T-shirts with the slogan 'For a Free Aquila' in the town of Aquila, Mexico, early Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Mexicoís rough western state of Michoacan, where Aquila is located, is proving just as tough a thorn in the side of President Enrique Pena Nieto as it was for his predecessor after gunmen believed to be working for the Knights Templar cartel launched a coordinated series of a half-dozen ambushes on federal police convoys last Tuesday followed by yet another self-defense group that has sprung up to fight against the Knights Templar.(AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( CORRECTION Mexico Drug War )
A young man, who identifies himself as M3, tries to enter the home of an alleged member of the Templar Knights cartel in the town of Aguililla, Mexico, Thursday, July 25, 2013. The 18-year-old, who claims on a video posted on a national newspaper website, that he is a former Templar Knights gunman who deserted the cartel and joined the ranks of the Aguililla self-defense group because he was disgusted with the way the Templar Knights treat the community. (AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( Mexico Drug War )
A young man, who identifies himself as M3, walks inside the home of an alleged member of the Templar Knights cartel in the town of Aguililla, Mexico, July 25, 2013. The 18-year-old, who claims on a video posted on a national newspaper website, that he is a former Templar Knights gunman who deserted the cartel and joined the ranks of the Aguililla self-defense group because he was disgusted with the way the Templar Knights treat the community. (AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( Mexico Drug War )
A young man, who identifies himself as M3, holds up a photo of what he claims is a businessman sympathizing and aiding the Templar Knights cartel inside the alleged home of a Templar Knight member in the town of Aguililla, Mexico, Thursday, July 25, 2013. The 18-year-old, who claims on a video posted on a national newspaper website, that he is a former Templar Knights gunman who deserted the cartel and joined the ranks of the Aguililla self-defense group because he was disgusted with the way the Templar Knights treat the community. (AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( Mexico Drug War )
A young man, who identifies himself as M3, grabs his weapon as he leaves his vehicle in the town of Aguililla, Mexico, Thursday, July 25, 2013. The 18-year-old, who claims on a video posted on a national newspaper website, that he is a former Templar Knights gunman who deserted the cartel and joined the ranks of the Aguililla self-defense group because he was disgusted with the way the Templar Knights treat the community. (AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( Mexico Drug War )
Armed members of a recently formed self-defense group ride on a pickup truck at the entrance to the town of Aguililla, Mexico, Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Mexico's rough western state of Michoacan is proving just as tough a thorn in the side of President Enrique Pena Nieto as it was for his predecessor after gunmen believed to be working for the Knights Templar cartel launched a coordinated series of a half-dozen ambushes on federal police convoys last Tuesday and another self-defense group has sprung up to fight against the Knights Templar.(AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( Mexico Drug War )
An armed member of a recently formed self-defense group stands guard at a roadblock at the entrance to the town of Aguililla, Mexico, Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Mexico's rough western state of Michoacan is proving just as tough a thorn in the side of President Enrique Pena Nieto as it was for his predecessor after gunmen believed to be working for the Knights Templar cartel launched a coordinated series of a half-dozen ambushes on federal police convoys last Tuesday and another self-defense group has sprung up to fight against the Knights Templar.(AP Photo/Gustavo Aguado) ( Mexico Drug War )