Ten years have passed since the disappearance of 43 Mexican students from the Ayotzinapa rural teacher training college, and their families are still searching for answers. The case, one of the most notorious human rights atrocities in a nation plagued by violence, has become a chilling symbol of Mexico’s missing persons crisis, with over 100,000 people vanishing without a trace.
On Thursday, the families will march through Mexico City, their voices echoing a decade of pain and frustration. Their chant, “Alive they took them! Alive we want them!” reflects the unwavering hope that their loved ones are still alive, though years of investigation have offered little solace.
The focus has shifted from finding the students alive to uncovering the truth about what happened to them and who is responsible. While the remains of only three students have been identified, the families remain determined to locate their loved ones. They hold the ruling left-wing party of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador responsible for the lack of progress in the case.
Maria Elena Guerrero, whose son is one of the missing, poignantly expressed the families’ despair, stating, “We believe this president lied to us. This president deceived us.” Hilda Hernandez, whose son also vanished, believes the authorities are deliberately trying to tire the families out, hoping they will eventually give up.
Despite the relentless pressure and the emotional toll, the families have refused to surrender. They demand truth, justice, and accountability, refusing to let their fight fade into oblivion.
President Lopez Obrador has defended his government’s record, highlighting the prosecution of 151 individuals, including 16 military personnel, and the imprisonment of 120 people. He maintains that there is no evidence of army involvement in the students’ disappearance.
The students from the Ayotzinapa college were known for their political activism and had commandeered buses to travel to a demonstration in Mexico City when they vanished. Evidence suggests that they were abducted by a drug cartel with the help of corrupt police. The official version of events, presented in 2015, was widely discredited, including the theory that the students’ remains were incinerated in a garbage dump.
In 2022, a truth commission appointed by Lopez Obrador’s government concluded that the case was a “state crime” and that the military shared responsibility, either directly or through negligence. The commission determined that the army was aware of the kidnapping and had access to real-time information but failed to act.
One theory put forward by the commission is that cartel members targeted the students after they unwittingly transported drugs on the bus.
Protesters recently took to the streets, expressing their anger and frustration at the lack of progress. Meliton Ortega, whose nephew is one of the missing, spoke for many when he stated, “For many of us, these 10 years represent impunity, injustice, and a lack of commitment, seriousness, and significant progress in this investigation.”
The 10th anniversary of the Ayotzinapa case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing fight for justice in Mexico. It exposes the deep wounds inflicted by violence and corruption, highlighting the need for accountability and the unwavering determination of families seeking answers and closure. The quest for truth continues, echoing the unwavering voices of those who refuse to be silenced.
