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More than 60,000 people are missing amid Mexico's drug war, officials say More than 60,000 people are missing amid Mexico's drug war, officials say
(about 1 hour later)
Mexican authorities admit the number is far higher than previously estimated as murders continue to riseMexican authorities admit the number is far higher than previously estimated as murders continue to rise
The devastating human toll of Mexico’s security crisis was laid bare on Monday as authorities admitted nearly 62,000 people had vanished since the start of its catastrophic war on drugs in 2006.The devastating human toll of Mexico’s security crisis was laid bare on Monday as authorities admitted nearly 62,000 people had vanished since the start of its catastrophic war on drugs in 2006.
The figure – far higher than a previous estimate of about 40,000 – spoke to the scale of the challenge facing Mexico’s leftist leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador who took power in December 2018 vowing to pacify his country. The figure – far higher than a previous estimate of about 40,000 – spoke to the scale of the challenge facing Mexico’s leftist leader, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who took power in December 2018 vowing to pacify his country.
Since then, however, the number of murders has continued to rise, with more than 31,000 lives lost in 2019 and López Obrador facing growing questions over his “hugs not bullets” strategy to cut crime by fighting its social roots.Since then, however, the number of murders has continued to rise, with more than 31,000 lives lost in 2019 and López Obrador facing growing questions over his “hugs not bullets” strategy to cut crime by fighting its social roots.
On Monday equally horrifying details emerged about the number of people being “disappeared” in Mexico – often by drug cartels, mafia groups or even state security forces.On Monday equally horrifying details emerged about the number of people being “disappeared” in Mexico – often by drug cartels, mafia groups or even state security forces.
Mexico’s undersecretary of human rights, Alejandro Encinas Rodríguez, told reporters that since López Obrador took office authorities had discovered 873 clandestine burial sites from which 1,124 bodies had been exhumed.Mexico’s undersecretary of human rights, Alejandro Encinas Rodríguez, told reporters that since López Obrador took office authorities had discovered 873 clandestine burial sites from which 1,124 bodies had been exhumed.
Only 395 of those victims had been identified, while 243 were returned to their families. Nearly three-quarters of the bodies were found in the states of Sinaloa, Jalisco, Colima, Sonora and Chihuahua – all notorious for the presence of drug traffickers or organized crime. Encinas said 5,184 people had gone missing during the same period.Only 395 of those victims had been identified, while 243 were returned to their families. Nearly three-quarters of the bodies were found in the states of Sinaloa, Jalisco, Colima, Sonora and Chihuahua – all notorious for the presence of drug traffickers or organized crime. Encinas said 5,184 people had gone missing during the same period.
Karla Quintana, head of Mexico’s recently created national search committee, said those figures took the official number of “desaparecidos” to 61,637 – nearly all since 2006 when then president Felipe Calderón, launched his ill-fated offensive against the drug cartels. Many believe the true figure could be even higher. Karla Quintana, head of Mexico’s recently created national search committee, said those figures took the official number of desaparecidos to 61,637 – nearly all since 2006, when then president Felipe Calderón launched his ill-fated offensive against the drug cartels.
“We have to remember we’re talking here about lives and families and people who are still missing,” Quintana told a press conference in the capital, Mexico City. “These are statistics of horror behind which lie so many stories of such great pain.”“We have to remember we’re talking here about lives and families and people who are still missing,” Quintana told a press conference in the capital, Mexico City. “These are statistics of horror behind which lie so many stories of such great pain.”
Many believe the true figure could be far higher. “We should keep in mind that disappeared data presented today is incomplete,” tweeted Falko Ernst, a Crisis Group Mexico specialist. “Twelve states have presented no/only partial info … this is but a step toward grasping full conflict scope.”
One of Mexico’s missing is José Barajas, a businessman and father who was seized from his ranch near the US border last April.One of Mexico’s missing is José Barajas, a businessman and father who was seized from his ranch near the US border last April.
Since then his brother, Jesse Barajas, has organized four search missions with support from a newly formed government search commission and protection from heavily armed Mexican troops.Since then his brother, Jesse Barajas, has organized four search missions with support from a newly formed government search commission and protection from heavily armed Mexican troops.
On Monday, as the new figures were announced, Barajas said he had yet to recover his brother’s body but had recently found the remains of an unidentified woman while searching a reeking wasteland in Tijuana.On Monday, as the new figures were announced, Barajas said he had yet to recover his brother’s body but had recently found the remains of an unidentified woman while searching a reeking wasteland in Tijuana.
“It was just a skeleton lying there. It had a bullet to the back of the head,” said Barajas, 62, who documents the searches on Facebook.“It was just a skeleton lying there. It had a bullet to the back of the head,” said Barajas, 62, who documents the searches on Facebook.
Barajas admitted trawling some of Latin America’s most dangerous corners for Mexico’s missing was a perilous task. Not even 20 armoured vehicles would be enough to enter some of the cartel-controlled areas he hoped to search for his brother’s body.Barajas admitted trawling some of Latin America’s most dangerous corners for Mexico’s missing was a perilous task. Not even 20 armoured vehicles would be enough to enter some of the cartel-controlled areas he hoped to search for his brother’s body.
“But we are not giving up,” the mechanic-turned-activist vowed. “But we are not giving up,” the mechanic turned activist vowed.
“It’s not just for my brother any more because I don’t think I’m going to find him … We’ve turned over every stone within 20 miles of his house. But these missing [61,637] are all my brothers.”“It’s not just for my brother any more because I don’t think I’m going to find him … We’ve turned over every stone within 20 miles of his house. But these missing [61,637] are all my brothers.”