VIDEO: Dr. Mireles Describes Agreements Made With the Government

By: Ernesto Martínez Elorriaga | Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

Morelia, Michoacán—A video message recorded in April 2014 by the former leader of the autodefensas, José Manuel Mireles Valverde, was released in social networks.  The video message was intended to be spread after his death.  According to Mireles, organized crime groups, federal and state governments, and even his wife, intended to eliminate him.

  Some parts of the message had already been released, however on the Grillonautas2 YouTube channel, the entire video, with a duration of 46 minutes, was released where it is clarified that Mireles lost all the support of the federal government after taking Tancítaro with a group of autodefensas, on November, 16, 2013.

In early November 2013, Mireles says, he met with several federal officials in Mexico City, including Miguel Ángel Osorio Chong and the director of the Center for Research and National Security (CISEN), who approved his proposals:

To clean up organized crime throughout Michoacán; restoring the rule of law; liberate all imprisoned autodefensas; to appoint a single spokesperson on behalf of all autodefensa groups, which would be Mireles, and the arrest of 20 organized crime leaders, of which seven main ones operated in the region of Tepalcatepec, from which Mireles was born.

He said that there was an unwritten agreement whereby the federal government committed to provide them with an armored unit, and “another agreement: that we would no longer move to other municipalities,” and in the case that they would progress to other municipalities, it would have to be jointly with the federal government.

At that meeting, Mireles said that he planned to take Los Reyes, Aquila, Coahuayana, Uruapan, Ario de Rosales and Apatzingán.  They asked him to wait a week.  There was no response.  “We chose to take Tancítaro (November 16, 2013) in response to the request for help.  The day we decided to enter, the body of a seven-year-old girl, the daughter of an avocado farmer, appeared and her nine-year-old sister disappeared, even though they had paid 23 million pesos.”

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A Judge in Jalisco Will Have To Determine in 48 Hours If Dr. Mireles Goes Free

Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

Ignacio Mendoza Jiménez, lawyer of the leader of the autodefensas in Michoacán, said that within 48 hours, a judge in the 7^th Circuit Court must decide on his request so that Mireles Valverde can continue his release process.  He ensures that, so far, charges against Mireles have been unable to stick, not even that of bearing arms, because of the fact that the autodefensas had the permission from the government to be armed.   He noted that the proof is that in different operations, they were accompanied by members of the Mexican Army and the federal police.

Mexico City, June 27, 2016 (SinEmbargo)— In 48 hours, the 7^th Circuit Court in Guadalajara will make a ruling on the legal status of the leader of the autodefensas of Michoacán, José Manuel Mireles Valverde, who on Monday, completed being imprisoned for two years.

His lawyer, Ignacio Mendoza Jiménez, said that on Wednesday, the Judge of the 7^th Court, Isidro Avelar Gutiérrez, will have to issue a ruling on the appeal made by the defense which asks for the liberation of Mireles Valverde, since they have been unable to fully prove the crimes for which he is being imprisoned for in the Federal Social Readaptation Center #11 in Hermosillo, Sonora.

“In 48 hours, there will be a hearing to modify the precautionary measure and achieve the physical liberation of the doctor but not the conclusion of the process,” he said.

“Since 2013, the Government of the Republic knew autodefensas were forming and there was no interposition or action to stop them, knowing that not only did they do activism in the villages to warn of the presence of criminals, but they also fought them with arms, moreover, they institutionalized them,” the lawyer stressed.

He added that for Mireles and the other autodefensa members, there are three grounds for the exclusion of the crime, so they are not responsible for these acts and should be free.

He noted that the record in the process has already proven conclusively that the Mexican Government gave consent to Mireles Valverde and to all of the autodefensas of Michoacán, the authorization to keep and bear arms, and even made joint operations with the Mexican Army and the federal police.

“The Mexican Government granted him and all of the autodefensas in Michoacán authorization to bear arms.  Prior to the arrival of the Commission [for Security and Integral Development of Michoacán] a movement emerged in La Ruana, in which, civilians armed themselves and confronted organized crime, during that time, the Mexican Army accompanied the autodefensas in operations, and this is documented, they never stopped them and never told them not to do so,” Mendoza Jiménez said during a news conference.

“The failure of the Federal Government was not using Article 29 of the Constitution which we call “exceptional state”, which would have provided them with special laws and the Court would’ve analyzed what was to be done, since they didn’t, they did everything outside of the legal framework,” he said.

At The Gates Of The Decision

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At 2 Years in Prison, Mireles Says He Hasn’t Lost Faith

Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

 

Almost two years after his arrest, José Manuel Mireles argues that the autodefensas didn’t have any other choice but to take up arms to fight against organized crime in Michoacán.

“Those responsible for the violence in Michoacán are the organized crime cartels.  Who dictated our way of fighting, was them; we didn’t have any other choice but to respond in the same way, fire with fire,” he said in a message recorded from prison.

 “We couldn’t go up against a horde of well-armed murderers, and us with clean hands.”

The former spokesman of the General Council of Autodefensas in Michoacán noted that for over 12 years, the government’s fight against crime didn’t give results.

He believed that when the law contravenes with justice, justice must prevail no matter if it comes from the people.

“That is why the autodefensas face off against crime and that is why some of us are prisoners, but we have no doubt that at the end of our judgements, truth and justice will prevail, because fixing this kind of slavery is the highest aspiration of all social fighters,” he said.

For the activist, imprisoned since June 27, 2014, the struggle of armed civilians prevented another generation of children and youths from finish their days enslaved to organized crime or in prison.

The message was released during a rally that was held on Friday in downtown Morelia to demand the release of the fellow surgeon who took up arms in 2013.

Mireles was arrested after entering the community of La Mira, in the municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas, with his men, in order to take control of security against the criminal siege of Los Caballeros Templarios.

The activist was charged with crimes against health and the Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives, being held in the maximum security prison in Hermosillo, Sonora.

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Mireles’ Message From Prison: Yes It Was Worth It

Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

(Message dated October 14, 2015; Received on December 2, 2015, Hermosillo, Sonora)

“On the other hand, one of the people who sent me a letter strongly questioned me whether our struggle was worth it, because some of us are imprisoned while others are being assassinated along with their entire families.  This is why I want to send a short message.

The national front of autodefensas was made official on May 5, 2014 and on May 28, 2014, it became known worldwide with 12 states of the republic, in the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros.

By 6pm that day, there had already been 19 states that had registered.  A day before my arrest, a 20^th state registered.  YES IT WAS WORTH IT.

To all of the autodefensas of Michoacán and of the Mexican Republic, I tell them to continue to organize, to take care of their life, their house, their towns, and their productivity, if we fight; we won’t die when the criminals want us to die.

If we fight, we will only die when God wills it.  I tell you this from experience.  After seven ambushes, and a plane crash, I kept fighting organized crime in Michoacán and my worthwhile witnesses have been the reporters of Denise Maerker.  As well as those from the newspaper El País and the Washington Post and others who were with us in some of our battles.

This is why I tell you to organize and to take care of your communities, by neighborhood and by the entrances and exits of the towns.

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Mireles Case: Vallejo, Castillo and Godoy Refuse To Testify

By: Francisco Castellanos J. | Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

Ignacio Mendoza, lawyer of the founder and former autodefensa leader, José Manuel Mireles Valverde, called it a “mockery” for Mexico’s justice system because of former commissioner for the Security of Michoacán, Alfredo Castillo Cervantes, Michoacán’s former governor Fausto Vallejo Figueroa, and Attorney General Martín Godoy Castro’s refusal to obey the order of the Fifth District Court to present themselves to testify in Mireles’ case.

Mendoza, who also represents Cemeí Verdía, said that none of them have justification to not present themselves and that for them to keep maintaining that position could be eligible for a fine of more than 80 minimum wages.

Castillo, he added, has a large scale position (head of the National Sports Commission) so he could have gone to testify but instead sent a letter via his assistant that was not signed.

“José Martín Godoy is the Attorney General of Michoacán so he could well have come via helicopter and not spent more than four hours,” he explained.

For the case of the former governor, he said, he is now an ordinary citizen, and even more so, he could’ve attended but had health problems, Mireles’ lawyer explained.

The lawyer claims to have won the case, that the former leader of the autodefensas will be released soon by the body of evidence presented at the Fifth District Court and that Judge José Armando Wong Aceituno will have no choice but to release Mireles.

“The judge will send them (Vallejo, Castillo and Godoy) a questionnaire to see if they deign to answer it, but this case is already won for Dr. Mireles to regain his freedom, because the causes are the same as those of Cemeí Verdía, for which he was granted his freedom.”

Meanwhile, the founder of the autodefensas of La Ruana, Hipólito Mora Chávez, said in an interview to the media that he presented himself to testify and said why the autodefensas arose and also how the government used them as “cannon fodder” sending them to clean Michoacán of organized crime.

Mireles supporters call for his release in Mexico City

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Dr. Mireles and Bodyguards Will Remain In Jail; PGR Appealed Amparo

Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

Dr. José Manuel Mireles and three of his bodyguards will remain in jail until an appeal filed by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office assigned to the First Unitary Court of Morelia is resolved against the amparo that was granted three weeks ago.

The new legal process could take up to four months, despite the fact that during this week they were going to sentence Mireles and his three bodyguards either to trial or prison.

The appeal was integrated into the original trial record of guarantees and will be forwarded to the presiding judge of the Collegiate Tribunal in Criminal Matters in Michoacán.

It is worth noting that on March 31, the First Unitarian Court of the 11^th Circuit granted this verdict to José Manuel Mireles Valverde, Javier Reyes Magaña, Gerardo López Casillas and Salvador Mendoza García for the violation of their fundamental rights at trial.

José Manuel Mireles and three of his bodyguards were arrested last June 27, accused of carrying restricted weapons for the exclusive use of the Mexican Army and for crimes against public health.

Mireles is currently imprisoned in Hermosillo, Sonora and his bodyguards in Tepic, Nayarit.

Source: Michoacán 3.0

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“What Follows Is a Civil War”

By: Claudia Guerrero and Claudia Salazar; Ana Fuentes|Translated by Valor for Borderland Beat

From the Senate of the Republic, representatives of civil organizations demanded the implementation of an amnesty law for 380 autodefensa members who are currently incarcerated, the liberation of José Manuel Mireles, and the resignation of Federal Commissioner for Michoacán, Alfredo Castillo.

During the meeting “Conference on Security and Justice Autodefensas: From Impulse to Persecution”, the activist Javier Sicilia acknowledged that the increase in violence, impunity, and the government’s complicity with crime have led citizens to rise up in arms and defend themselves against organized crime.

The meeting was brought together by senators Layda Sansores (PT), Manuel Bartlett (PT), Javier Corral (PAN), Alejandro Encinas (PRD) y Ernesto Ruffo (PAN).  Those in attendance also included journalists and activists.  The meeting was divided into five subjects which include:

1. Statistics on Violent Mexico, which was presented by journalist Sanjuana Martínez, Father Alejandro Solalinde and journalist José Reveles.
2. The Violation of Due Process, with the presentation of Dr. Jaime Cárdenas García, Dr. Salvador Molina Navarro, the activist and autodefensa Julián Le Barón, Dr. John Ackerman, and Senator Ernesto Ruffo.
3. Amnesty Law, presented by author Luis Hernández Navarro, actor Daniel Giménez Cacho, activist and poet Javier Sicilia, and Senator Javier Corral.
4. The National Guard: Proposed Solution to the Insecurity, in which General Francisco Gallardo, activist José Jacques and Senator Layda Sansores, proposed an action plan to curb organized crime.
5. The Federal Pact and the Case of Michoacán, where Father Gregorio López, independent representative Selene Vázquez, and Senator Manuel Bartlett exposed the insecurity prevailing in Michoacán.

“We want to see Dr. Mireles liberated, but we also want to see his autodefensas liberated, as well as all of the political prisoners who have risen up in arms to defend themselves”, he said.

“We appeal so that the Amnesty Law can be applied to the autodefensas who are imprisoned and who are victims.  We ask the State to disarm not the autodefensas, but the immediate disarmament of the narcos and those state apparatuses that are in collusion with them”.

In front of PAN and PT legislators, actor Daniel Jiménez Cacho, from the organization "El Grito más Fuerte" (The Strongest Cry), demanded the immediate resignation of Castillo.

“We are here to demand the release of Dr. José Manuel Mireles, the dismissal of Commissioner Alfredo Castillo, and the disarmament of criminal gangs”, he said.

“We condemn the arrest of Dr. Mireles; it was made up that he was exhibiting a head, it was said that he had bags of cocaine and marijuana, but it is one example among thousands where due process is not satisfied”.

General Francisco Gallardo, advisor to the Commission on Human Rights of the Senate, acknowledged Mireles and even put on his hat.

In his speech, he warned that there is weariness in the society, in the face of impunity.

“What follows is a civil war, it seems that the government is betting on that”, he said.

In front of Virginia Mireles, Mireles’s sister, PAN Senator Javier Corral offered to take the case to the Senate’s platform.

“The most brutal message of this story is that in Michoacán we apprehend all, even a former Secretary of the Governor or an Acting Governor, the autodefensas, but the only one that isn’t detained is ‘La Tuta’”, he said.

The PT Senator Layda Sansores noted that Mireles isn’t just a name but a struggle.

“San Martin once said that when a government turns away from justice, it becomes a government of criminals, and we are governed by a bunch of criminals”, she added. 

Sources: Revolución 3.0, AM

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#LiberenAMireles: Widespread Protest in Support of Dr Mireles

 I am pleased to report the support in protest is growing and spreading fast, and not just in Michoacan but many other states and key cities.  They government were clueless to the respect and admiration people have for Dr. Mireles.  I hope he will soon be told.  I have not seen a groundswell like this for anyone in Mexico.  Amazing.  It is difficult to determine what will occur, but based on his subjection to multiple human rights violations, on that alone he should be granted a direct amparo, aside from his innocence.  Below is a photo of a pavilion in Hermosillo Sonora, where a rally was later held.  

The Sonora group marched in protest with saved heads and carrying a chicken leg, a nod to Dr Mireles' comment "I was armed with a chicken leg".  He was arrested inside the Happy Chicken resturant.  

Thank YOU readers for the outpouring of support and well wishes from you.   As I did the get well wishes after the plane crash, I will save the comments and present them to Doc Mireles when I am able to. 

There is a  campaign to demonstrate support of Dr Mireles by shaving ones head.  Many people including his female attorney have done so.  Here is a congressman from Veracruz, followed by Talia (atty), a man in Spain and one other foto. 

anonymous video.  I am posting it because of the information provided in the video with links to more.

Dear brothers, as I have noticed it has become a custom for the Mexican government to repress the people in different ways.

Therefore we demand in this statement for the immediate release of political prisoner: Dr. José Manuel Mireles, and so we also repudiate what circulating in some media.

He is behind bars for having crossed the laws in defense of a people that the government of Mexico has not been able to defend. The State has left the helpless citizens subjected to the violence in Mexico by organized crime and corruption by the government itself.

His name is Jose Manuel Mireles Valverde, community leader of autodefensas in state of Michoacán. Best known as "Doctor Mireles" was arrested last Friday June 27, 2014 in the town of Acalpican holding of La Mira, municipality of Lázaro Cárdenas.

His arrest is considered a political distraction used by the government to proceed with the reforms that affect the people.

And who is directly responsible for this injustice?

The answer is: Alfredo Castillo Cervantes, and now we explain who this person is.

During the presidency of Vicente Fox, he was advisor to the Deputy Criminal Procedure Do you remember the explosion at the PEMEX TOWER?  You know who investigated?

That's right: Alfredo Castillo Cervantes ...

In 2010 Enrique Peña Nieto appointed him procurator of the entity, replacing Alberto Bazbaz, who resigned from that position, after the case of the disappearance and death of  4 year old girl named Paulette, who  girl was found nine days later, strangled and wrapped in blankets jammed into the footboard of her bed. (the wealthy mother was not charged, more below)

When Enrique Peña Nieto took the presidency,  Castillo was commissioned to arrest any individual who will challenge the federal government.

Currently- is the Commissioner for Security and Integral Development of Michoacán. 

Returning to the Mireles case:

At the time of his arrest, police stated that he was armed. This is where irregularities begin, because several witnesses claim that the only thing Dr. Mireles was in possession of, was a chicken leg, as he  was in a restaurant.

Although Commissioner Castillo said Dr. Mireles has not hooded when arrested, there are multiple images and videos that reflect Mireles  being hooded when arrested.

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