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Mexico activists found dead by roadside in Guerrero state | Mexico activists found dead by roadside in Guerrero state |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Police in Mexico say they have found the bodies of three left-wing activists who went missing on Thursday after a protest in support of local farmers. | Police in Mexico say they have found the bodies of three left-wing activists who went missing on Thursday after a protest in support of local farmers. |
Five others are still missing. The bodies were found by the roadside in southern Guerrero state. | Five others are still missing. The bodies were found by the roadside in southern Guerrero state. |
Two bodies had bullet wounds, while the third victim seems to have been beaten to death. | Two bodies had bullet wounds, while the third victim seems to have been beaten to death. |
Mexican police say it is not clear whether the activists have been killed for their political work. | Mexican police say it is not clear whether the activists have been killed for their political work. |
They may have become the latest victims of drug cartels operating in the region. | They may have become the latest victims of drug cartels operating in the region. |
Among the dead is the local leader of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), Arturo Hernandez Cardona. | |
Mr Cardona, a well-known politician in Guerrero state, was also a leader of the Emiliano Zapata Peasants' Union (Ucez). | Mr Cardona, a well-known politician in Guerrero state, was also a leader of the Emiliano Zapata Peasants' Union (Ucez). |
Vigilante groups | Vigilante groups |
Fellow PRD activist Angel Aguirre Rivero said he did not believe that rival politicians were responsible for the deaths, but called for a thorough investigation. | |
"We live in different political times. Our party cannot accuse anyone. All we need is that those behind these deaths be punished," he told La Jornada newspaper. | "We live in different political times. Our party cannot accuse anyone. All we need is that those behind these deaths be punished," he told La Jornada newspaper. |
Mr Aguirre Rivero believes the militants were killed by common criminals. | |
"I believe this is the result of the violence the whole country is going through," he said. | "I believe this is the result of the violence the whole country is going through," he said. |
The bodies of the three activists were found outside the city of Iguala, which is inland from the popular resort of Acapulco. | The bodies of the three activists were found outside the city of Iguala, which is inland from the popular resort of Acapulco. |
About 70,000 people are estimated to have died in drug-related violence in Mexico over the past six years. | About 70,000 people are estimated to have died in drug-related violence in Mexico over the past six years. |
President Enrique Pena Nieto has made the fight against organised crime one of his main priorities and has announced the creation of a new federal police force to help drive down murder rates. | President Enrique Pena Nieto has made the fight against organised crime one of his main priorities and has announced the creation of a new federal police force to help drive down murder rates. |
Guerrero state has been particularly badly hit by the drug-cartel violence. | Guerrero state has been particularly badly hit by the drug-cartel violence. |
In response to the growing criminality, vigilante groups have been formed. | In response to the growing criminality, vigilante groups have been formed. |
The "self-defence groups" accuse the authorities of failing to provide security for ordinary citizens in the region. | The "self-defence groups" accuse the authorities of failing to provide security for ordinary citizens in the region. |
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