Photos: Mexican children take up arms in fight against drug gangs

Guerrero is one of the poorest and most violent parts of Mexico, with one of the country's highest murder rates because of drug gang wars over the trade in opium and marijuana.In the face of indifference from the authorities, 600 people voluntarily joined the militia force to fight organized crime. They included children. The basketball court serves as a training ground for youths, aged between five and 15 where children practice with rifles and handguns or makeshift weapons in various drill positions for a few hours every week.

Updated on: Jan 27, 2020 8:24 PM IST

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A boy aims a rifle as the Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF) community police force teaches a group of children how to use weapons, at a basketball court in the village of Ayahualtempan, Guerrero State, Mexico. The CRAC-PF vigilante group trains children as young as five so they can protect themselves from drug-related criminals groups operating in the area. (Pedro PARDO / AFP)

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View of bullet holes on the door of an abandoned home in the village of El Paraiso de Tepila. The children practice with rifles and handguns or makeshift weapons in various drill positions for a few hours every week. “Position three!” yells instructor Bernardino Sanchez, a member of the militia responsible for the security of 16 villages in the Guerrero area, which goes by the name of Regional Coordinator of Community Authorities (CRAC-PF). (Pedro PARDO / AFP)

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Guerrero is one of the poorest and most violent parts of Mexico, with one of the country’s highest murder rates because of drug gang wars over the trade in opium and marijuana. In the face of indifference from the authorities, 600 people voluntarily joined the militia force to fight organized crime. They included children. (Pedro PARDO / AFP)

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View of the yard of an abandoned school in the village of El Paraiso de Tepila. Inside are clothes, children’s shoes and bags of rotten corn cobs—everything left as it was when the occupants fled. (Pedro PARDO / AFP)

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Thirty children are in training. Those under the age of 13 are not yet taking part in patrols but are ready to fight in the event of an attack by Los Ardillos, as happened in May 2015 when the cartel entered the town hall of Chilapa and kidnapped more than 30 people. Since then, clashes between the militia and the drug traffickers have not abated. (Pedro PARDO / AFP)

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The situation has become so untenable for the inhabitants of the region that parents have agreed to let their children join the militia.”I wanted to study, but since the school is close to the area where Los Ardillos operates, I preferred the community police ... They were about to capture me,” said 13-year-old Gustavo. The boy said he “feels good” holding his .22 caliber shotgun and already knows how to use and clean it. (Pedro PARDO / AFP)

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Guerrero governor Hector Astudillo on Friday made his first appearance in the region since taking office four years ago. He took the opportunity to criticize the training of children and negotiate with the militia over lifting roadblocks. Many children “have lost their parents,” said Bernardino, who does not want to see others traumatized by the murder of their loved ones. On the basketball court, it is break time. The children grab a basketball and one aims for the frayed net, a too-large rifle slung behind his back. (Pedro PARDO / AFP)