Dr. Jose Manuel Mireles
Dr. Jose Manuel Mireles, physician and public face of the
Autodefensa movement in the Mexican State of Michoacán, was arrested with 82 other dissident militia members on June 27. He was transfered to a maximum security prison in Hermosillo, and charged with firearms offenses on July 5.
Mireles was removed as leader of the Autodefensas in May over a difference of opinion over the agreement between the Autodefensas and the Federal government. (See Mexican governments and Michoacán Autodefensas Sign Agreement.) Mireles felt the Federal government wasn't living up to its end of the agreement.
The timing of the arrest is suspicious because Mireles was organizing an autodefensa group in La Mira, which is a strategic location for the Knights Templar, the narco-terrorist group that the Autodefensas have been fighting.
Two doctors and a delegation from a local human rights commission have been denied access to Mireles. Mireles is diabetic, and might not have access to insulin.
Protest marches in support of Mireles took place in Tepalcatepec, Hermosillo, Lazaro Cardenas, and several other towns and cities on July 4. Rallies have been scheduled for Los Angeles, San Jose, Phoenix, and New York City. A Twitter campaign with the hashtag #LiberenaMireles has received an overwhelming response.
Story by Rafael Castillo at Vice News: Dissident Militia Leader Arrested With Drugs in Mexico, Authorities Say
Story by Chivis Martinez with video news clip in Borderland Beat: Widespread Protest in Support of Dr Mireles
Another story by Chivis Martinez: Human Rights Commission and Medical Professionals Barred from Seeing Dr Mireles