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By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
The 12 individuals who were kidnapped Wednesday were released late Wednesday night following hours of negotiations by officials with the Michoacan state government, according to Mexican news accounts.
Wednesday it was reported in Mexican press that 11 unidentified individuals has been kidnapped from Cheran municipality. Reports at the time were unclear as to just who held the victims and what were the demands for release.
Reports said the abductions were a reaction by indigent Indians in Cheran municipality who had been trying to stop what was termed "illegal logging" in the area.
The presumed perpetrators kidnapped the victims as a response to allegations that residents of Cheran were engaged in carjacking, highway robbery and theft of fuel.
The group which held the hostages were from the rival village of Cerecito. The abductions took place as a response to an alleged theft of three vehicles from Cerecito. An autonomous town council in Cheran also accused residents of Cerecito of being in the pay of organized crime.
An agreement to release the victims was reached at 2200 hrs Wednesday, presumably negotiated by Michoacan Secretario de Gobierno or Interior Minister, Jesus Reyna Garcia.
The agreement provided for the the release of eight men and four women, in exchange for the return of the stolen vehicles reportedly numbering 40 in total.
The kidnapping victims were unharmed except for two women who were treated for their injuries and reported as stable.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com