Background on the Comisión Nacional de Búsqueda (CNB)
The Comisión Nacional de Búsqueda (CNB), led by Martha Lidia Pérez Gumercindo, has been at the center of controversy regarding its handling of disappearance cases in Mexico. The CNB was established to address the issue of forced disappearances, a grave human rights violation that has affected thousands of families across the country.
Accusations Against the CNB
More than 80 human rights organizations and family groups of the disappeared have issued a statement demanding that the CNB hire independent and specialized experts in locating and identifying victims. They accuse the CNB of lacking expertise, political will, and professionalism in its official actions.
Limited Role of the CNB
The coalition claims that, in most cases, the CNB has taken on a secondary role, acting merely as an observer and leaving search responsibilities to the families. This has led to frustration, as the CNB has failed to fulfill its legal obligation to design and execute comprehensive search plans.
Ignoring the Presumption of Life
Families have denounced that the CNB has disregarded the principle of presumption of life, established by Mexico’s Supreme Court of Justice in amparo case 51/2020, related to the forced disappearance of social activists Edmundo Reyes Amaya and Gabriel Alberto Cruz Sánchez. This principle requires authorities to presume that disappeared individuals are still alive until proven otherwise.
Technical Analysis Questions CNB’s Peritaje
An independent technical analysis, requested by the Hasta Encontrarlos coalition, has questioned the scientific validity of the CNB’s peritaje conducted in Oaxaca in January of this year. The analysis points out multiple errors in the use of georadar and prospecting methodology, which, according to the report, invalidates official conclusions.
Criticisms of the CNB’s Peritaje
The analysis criticizes the use of inadequate equipment, deficient sampling techniques, and incomplete data processing. It also highlights the absence of basic information about soil type and geomorphology, which hinders reliable interpretation of results. Furthermore, the report accuses the CNB of employing a linear scanning scheme instead of closed grids, a standard archaeological and forensic technique that enables the creation of 3D subsurface models and reduces error margins.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the main parties involved? The Comisión Nacional de Búsqueda (CNB), led by Martha Lidia Pérez Gumercindo, and coalitions of families of the disappeared along with human rights organizations.
- What are the accusations against the CNB? Lack of expertise, political will, and professionalism in handling disappearance cases. The CNB has been accused of taking a secondary role, failing to fulfill legal obligations, and disregarding the presumption of life principle.
- What is the technical analysis’ main criticism? The analysis questions the scientific validity of the CNB’s peritaje in Oaxaca, citing multiple errors in georadar use and prospecting methodology. It also criticizes the absence of essential soil information and the use of an inadequate scanning scheme.
