Translated by Valor for
Borderland Beat
Guerrero— Protected by
autodefensas, students from San Miguel Totolapan returned to school on Monday,
March 20, after schools at different educational levels (preschool, primary,
secondary, and upper secondary) closed for three months because of the presence
of the criminal group “Los Tequileros”.
According to
information from the newspaper El Sur,
autodefensa members known as “Movimiento de La Paz” are responsible for
protecting students.
Federal and state
authorities have been ignorant of the problem of violence and insecurity
experienced by the inhabitants of the municipality, so that neither members of
the different state police units nor the Mexican Army have been present to
provide protection in the area.
In the municipal seat,
there are three kindergartens, three primary schools, two secondary and upper
secondary schools, some of which have closed their doors since January for fear
of Los Tequileros.
And this criminal group
is the main perpetrator of the kidnappings, extortions, and homicides that have
been registered during the last three years in the Tierra Caliente region in
Guerrero.
Therefore, autodefensa
members have been responsible for providing protection not only to the
students, but also to the teachers and workers of these institutions.