Families of the 43 students from a rural teacher’s college who were abducted a decade ago in southern Mexico commemorated the painful anniversary on Thursday, expressing disappointment over what they perceive as ten years of unmet promises by the government. The anniversary coincided just four days before the end of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term, who instilled hope when he took office in 2018.
At the beginning of his administration, progress was made with the establishment of a Truth Commission and the declaration of the disappearances as a “state crime.” However, the investigation faced obstacles without cooperation from the military, leading the president to align himself with the generals, much to the dismay of the families. Despite initial hope, the families are disillusioned, feeling that the military is being shielded unfairly.
The students from the Rural Normal School at Ayotzinapa were attacked in Iguala in 2014 by a local drug gang in collusion with various levels of authorities when they went to steal buses, a common practice for securing transportation. Even after two administrations, many crucial details about the students’ fates, particularly their whereabouts, remain a mystery, contributing to the larger issue of over 115,000 recorded missing persons in Mexico.
Joaquina García, the mother of one of the missing students, expressed the immense pain and suffering endured over a decade without knowing the fate of her son. She voiced her frustration during an event at Mexico’s National Autonomous University, demanding accountability from those responsible for the disappearances. While some progress has been made with around 120 individuals in custody and former officials facing charges for fabricating false narratives, the grieving families continue to seek answers.
Despite López Obrador’s pledge to unravel the mystery surrounding the students’ disappearance, recent remarks from the president downplaying the situation and dismissing allegations involving the military has elicited criticism. International bodies such as the United Nations Human Rights Office and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights have expressed concern over the lack of substantial progress in the investigation, emphasizing the need to identify and hold accountable those involved in the disappearance.
On the anniversary of the tragedy, the parents and students from the teacher’s college planned to march through Mexico City, a monthly tradition they have upheld for the past decade in their quest for justice. Joaquina García affirmed that their fight is far from over, signaling their determination to continue pushing for answers and accountability for the students who remain missing.