Mexico City, Jan 29 (EFE).- Residents of several communities in Guerrero, a state in southern Mexico, released a statement Wednesday alleging that they "have spent more than 24 hours being harassed" and subjected to "intimidation and abuse of authority by the Mexican army, the Federal Police and state (police)."
The statement was issued by grassroots organizations in the cities of Juan R. Escudero, Tecoanapa, Ayutla, Florencio Villareal and San Marcos.
Residents protested against the presence of security forces members because the cities all have "community police" who are in charge of public safety, eliminating the need for a federal presence, the grassroots organizations said.
The Citizens Security and Justice System, which has existed for years, has allowed the communities to "put the brakes on the organized crime groups that kidnapped, extorted, raped women, collected protection money and (committed) a series of crimes that kept citizens in the entire area living in fear," the grassroots organizations said.
The five cities, which are located in the Costa Chica region, have been surrounded by the army and police for several days, the grassroots organizations said.
"The military, public and police forces" arrived in the area following "an organizing process in the community of El Ocotito, in the city of Chilpancingo, to guarantee the security of its people and seven nearby communities," the grassroots organizations said.
Police and soldiers had been deployed in 407 communities, of which 205 are Indian villages and the rest Afro-Mexican and mestizo settlements, as of Tuesday, with checkpoints established on some roads.
"The military checkpoints are not allowing civilians to pass from one community to another either in automobiles or on foot, (and) military vehicles and armored cars scare the population directly," the organizations said.
The government should show "respect for human rights and the integrity of people," upholding the right to move freely and protest, the grassroots organizations said.
A total of 25 organizations, including the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities, or CRAC-PC, and the parishes of Malinaltepec, Pascala del Oro, Santa Cruz del Rincon and Atlamajatzingo del Monte, signed the statement.
