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Mexican missing-student activist killed in Guerrero state | Mexican missing-student activist killed in Guerrero state |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Mexican community activist who helped families search for their missing relatives has been killed. | A Mexican community activist who helped families search for their missing relatives has been killed. |
Miguel Angel Jimenez Blanco's body was found near his home in a town in the south-western state of Guerrero. | |
He had led search parties after the disappearance of 43 students in the nearby town of Iguala last year threw light on hundreds of other missing people. | He had led search parties after the disappearance of 43 students in the nearby town of Iguala last year threw light on hundreds of other missing people. |
Guerrero is a region plagued by gang and drug violence. | Guerrero is a region plagued by gang and drug violence. |
Mr Jimenez Blanco's body was found in the taxi he owned in the small town of Xaltianguis. | Mr Jimenez Blanco's body was found in the taxi he owned in the small town of Xaltianguis. |
He had been part of an organisation which had supported the search for the students in the hills around Iguala. He had also helped dig up a number of graves of murdered people that were found during the search for the students. | |
He had helped organise a group called The Other Disappeared, mostly women who meet every Sunday to search the hills for the remains of their loved ones. | He had helped organise a group called The Other Disappeared, mostly women who meet every Sunday to search the hills for the remains of their loved ones. |
'This area is a cemetery' | 'This area is a cemetery' |
The search parties started in November last year, a few months after the 43 students were abducted and presumably killed in Iguala on 26 September. | The search parties started in November last year, a few months after the 43 students were abducted and presumably killed in Iguala on 26 September. |
Since the group began work, it has found 129 bodies, which were handed over to the authorities for identification. | Since the group began work, it has found 129 bodies, which were handed over to the authorities for identification. |
In a BBC interview, Mr Jimenez Blanco said that after Iguala, 300 families had come forward saying they had missing relatives too. | In a BBC interview, Mr Jimenez Blanco said that after Iguala, 300 families had come forward saying they had missing relatives too. |
"We have been saying from the start that this area is a cemetery," he said at the time. | "We have been saying from the start that this area is a cemetery," he said at the time. |
David Cienfuegos, government secretary of the state of Guerrero, told the BBC many families had stayed silent for decades for fear of retribution. | David Cienfuegos, government secretary of the state of Guerrero, told the BBC many families had stayed silent for decades for fear of retribution. |
"Many crimes linked to the disappearance of people need a statement to the police so the case can be taken up. | "Many crimes linked to the disappearance of people need a statement to the police so the case can be taken up. |
"In the last decade in Guerrero there have been few statements taken because the families are afraid. They fear the police themselves are involved in the disappearances." | "In the last decade in Guerrero there have been few statements taken because the families are afraid. They fear the police themselves are involved in the disappearances." |
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, one of Miguel Jimenez Blanco's friends, Mario Vergara, whose brother went missing last year, said that he motivated hundreds of families. | In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, one of Miguel Jimenez Blanco's friends, Mario Vergara, whose brother went missing last year, said that he motivated hundreds of families. |
"He taught us how to search and how to push and every day he would give us the energy to carry on." | "He taught us how to search and how to push and every day he would give us the energy to carry on." |
The case of the missing 43 students promoted a national and international outcry. The parents of the students and many other Mexicans still reject the government's version of events. | The case of the missing 43 students promoted a national and international outcry. The parents of the students and many other Mexicans still reject the government's version of events. |
The administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto has insisted the students were killed by gang members on the orders of corrupt local police. | The administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto has insisted the students were killed by gang members on the orders of corrupt local police. |
The bodies were then burnt, and the remains dumped in a river, but so far only one student has been identified. | The bodies were then burnt, and the remains dumped in a river, but so far only one student has been identified. |
The case highlighted hundreds of other people missing in the state of Guerrero - Mexico's most violent. | The case highlighted hundreds of other people missing in the state of Guerrero - Mexico's most violent. |
Guerrero is a major opium-producing state and a battleground for a number of different criminal gangs. | Guerrero is a major opium-producing state and a battleground for a number of different criminal gangs. |
More than 20,000 people are missing across the whole country. | More than 20,000 people are missing across the whole country. |