Background on the Ayotzinapa Case
Eleven years after the disappearance of 43 Ayotzinapa normal students, their parents and legal representatives expressed frustration and disappointment following a meeting with Mexico City’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. Despite the presentation of new technological tools to uncover what happened, investigations have shown setbacks and failed to offer any significant progress.
Who are the Parents?
Mario González, father of César Manuel González, stated that “with the new technology, as advanced as they’ve shown us, they’ve dropped the lines of investigation we had for 10 years, like those involving the Army or multiple arrest warrants.”
Emiliano Navarrete, father of José Ángel Navarrete González, questioned the Fiscalía Especial’s ability to advance investigations. He also asserted that Mauricio Pazarán, the new head of the Special Investigation and Litigation Unit for the Ayotzinapa Case, has yet to produce results.
Navarrete further accused authorities of continuing to protect former officials.
“The Fiscalía really doesn’t have the capacity to carry out an investigation. We see it as very poor; in my opinion, it requires truly qualified personnel who are eager to work. If you’re only there for the pay, the job, or just to survive, it doesn’t make sense to occupy such an important position,” Emiliano Navarrete explained.
Lawyer’s Statement
Isidoro Vicario, the attorney for the families, concluded the meeting by stating, “The government still owes us a lot. We haven’t seen any progress indicating what happened on the night of September 26, 2014, or the whereabouts of our children.”
Vicario also mentioned that there were no updates regarding the extraditions of Tomás Zerón and Ulises Bernabé from the United States or the investigation line related to 17 young men detained at the municipal bench on the night of the disappearance.
Positive Developments
One positive outcome from the meeting with Mexico’s president was the possibility of the return of the Group of Independent Experts (GIEI), which families have repeatedly requested.
Mario González shared that President Sheinbaum gave her word, and they expect to see how the GIEI can return to the Ayotzinapa youth disappearance case in the coming days.
Future Plans
The parents announced that they will carry out demonstrations and commemorative events in Guerrero and Mexico City during September to keep their demand for the safe return of the 43 students alive.
They also plan to hold another meeting with the federal executive in November.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue? Parents are frustrated with stalled investigations into their children’s disappearance, despite new technological tools presented by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
- Who are the parents? Mario González and Emiliano Navarrete are fathers of two of the missing students. Isidoro Vicario is their attorney.
- What concerns do the parents have? They question the Fiscalía Especial’s capacity, the lack of results from the new investigation unit head, and the continued protection of former officials by authorities.
- What positive developments emerged from the meeting? There is a possibility of the Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) returning to support the investigation.
- What are the parents’ future plans? They will conduct demonstrations and commemorative events in September and plan another meeting with the federal executive in November.
