Buenavista, Michoacán: Blockades, Ditches In The Road, Shootings And a Missing Former Self-Defense Member

"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat

Since the afternoon of this Sunday, social networks have been warning to avoid traveling on the Apatzingán-Buenavista highway

This Sunday afternoon, a climate of tension was unleashed in the municipality of Buenavista, since the road that leads to Apatzingán has been blocked, in addition to the fact that, with machinery, civilians have dug trenches to prevent passage.

Unofficially, it has been reported that the disappearance this Sunday of Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez, El Kiro, relatively close to "Abuelo" Farías and founder of the self-defense groups in Tepalcatepec, would have triggered the clashes and blockades.

First, it was reported that on the Apatzingán-Buenavista highway, near the community of San Juan de los Plátanos, a group of people had used several vehicles to block the road, the reasons for this being unknown at first.

Later another report was given, that civilians had dug trenches across the same road, but this time near Santa Ana Amatlán, Buenavista municipality. But in addition, it was reported that armed confrontations were already taking place between groups of civilians in the area.

Hours later, there was a shooting, of which no further details were given, in addition to a vehicle blockade and the burning of wood in the vicinity of Las Delicias.

People who reported this point out that the conflict has escalated, the recommendation is to avoid traveling through the area. On the other hand, unofficial sources have mentioned that security corporations from the three levels of government have already mobilized to the area.

Missing, founder of self-defense groups and his family

This Sunday, relatives and residents of Tepalcatepec, Michoacán, reported the disappearance of one of the three founders of the self-defense movement in the entity.

Reports indicate that Ángel Gutiérrez Aguilar, El Kiro, was traveling with his family from Tepalcatepec to Apatzingán, where he was going to attend a medical consultation.

El Kiro contacted one of his relatives and the inhabitants of Tepalcatepec to notify them that an armed group was following him in the municipal seat of Buenavista.

The sources consulted indicated that this was the last time they had communication with the elderly man, a cattle rancher.

Representatives of the armed civil struggle of Tepalcatepec and of different municipalities threatened to travel to the place of the alleged disappearance to search for him.

They blamed Santiago Quintero Magallón, El Maguey, head of the plaza in the municipal seat of Buenavista for the disappearance.

Self-defense groups of Tepalcatepec and six other municipalities warned that if Ángel Gutiérrez does not appear, they will break into El Maguey's lair to rescue El Kiro.

El Kiro contacted one of his relatives and the inhabitants of Tepalcatepec to notify them that an armed group was following him in the municipal seat of Buenavista.

Who is El Kiro?

Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez Aguilar, El Kiro, is originally from the La Soledad ranch, in the municipality of Tepalcatepec, and one of the three main founders of the self-defense groups.

His work was crucial in forming the first two groups of armed civilians who were born in Michoacán, along with Hipólito Mora Chávez, from La Ruana, and Juan José Farías Álvarez, El Abuelo, from Tepalcatepec.

El Kiro was one of the characters who on February 24 took up arms against the criminal siege of the Los Caballeros Templarios cartel.

La Voz de Michoacán