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Mexican town fights against illegal logging
Residents of Mexican town begin vigil against armed gangs to protect pine forest.
Last Modified: 09 Jun 2011 20:37

Illegal pine logging is threatening the way of life for people in Cheran, a town in Mexico's southwestern state of Michoacan.

Local people say that in the last three years heavily armed men working for organised crime groups have been stealing wood and taking it away.

Five people were killed when they tried to stop the criminals.

The federal government sent in the army following the violence but people in the area say the soldiers need to stay in the area to guard the pine forests.

Al Jazeera's Franc Contreras reports from Cheran.
Source:
Al Jazeera
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