"While some reports claimed they were members of a drug cartel, others suggested they were actually members of the so-called Autodefensas, a local vigilante militia. The military only described the gunmen as "criminals."

This is the crux of the matter. To civilians both the government and cartels are criminals exploiting them. To the cartel, both the military and civilians are enemies, and to the government, both the cartels and the civilians are criminals. The civilians are the only people whose opinions matter. Both the government and the cartels prey on civilians, and while it is true that I am a civilian and thus biased, the rhetoric of the government claims they defend civilians, and their actions in seizing their means of security are contrary to this, instead revealing the concern of government is only in aggrandizing it's power. Worse is true of the cartels.

Civilians demonstrate no interest in anything but their proper concerns.

Thanks!