Mireles: I am a political prisoner

The founder of the self-defense forces in Michoacán, José Manuel Mireles, sent a message from prison, in which he criticizes the way organized crime has allegedly destroyed the villages that rose up in arms.

"I have been in the Cefereso prison of Hermosillo, Sonora, for 14 months and my situation is still not defined; I am a political prisoner because I used arms to defend my people." he said.

"I see with sadness that all the community leaders of the self-defense forces are being killed in the villages that rose up in arms. Now I do not call it organized crime, I call it authorized crime." he added.

He also regretted the killings of community leaders in Yurécuaro, Churumuco, Nueva Italia and Huetamo, and the imprisonment of Cemeí Verdía.