Mexico Is Suffering from an Epidemic of Disappearances - Amnesty International Jose Antonio Roman - La Jornada
go to original January 17, 2016

The families of the 43 Ayotzinapa disappeared students are disappointed by the lack of progress after nearly 16 months since the youth were forcibly disappeared by local police. Correspondent, Clayton Conn has more. (teleSUR English)

Amnesty international (AI) claims that Mexico suffers from an epidemic of disappearances fed by the attitude of “incompetence, inertia and indifference” shown by the government. They are more concerned about giving “relevant political answers” than creating real and effective public policies aimed at confronting this phenomenon.

In their recent report, “Treated with Indolence: the State’s response to the disappearances in Mexico”, the international organisation for human rights, emphasized that almost half of the 27,000,600 disappeared or unfound people have been reported missing during the administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto. According to official statistics, this number was 3,000,425 in 2015.

The 52 page document published by AI emphasizes that many cases have derived from police arrests or army detentions. Furthermore, the fact that Mexican police and army do not keep a record of arrests, “allows authorities to deny complete responsibility and wash its hands of the situation.”

The document also warns of how the Mexican State needs to urgently recognize the magnitude of the problem and to take on the responsibility of investigating all cases of disappearance and forced disappearance which have taken place in the country. Additionally, they need to force those responsible for the crimes to face up to justice and comply with the due process guarantees, as well as, ensure an opportunity for comprehensive reparations of the harm caused to any victims and their families.

AI used their report to highlight two symbolic cases showing various facets of the problem.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Amy Johnston

Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx

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