This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-36126633
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Mexico missing students: Government 'hampered' independent inquiry | Mexico missing students: Government 'hampered' independent inquiry |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A panel of international experts investigating the disappearance of 43 Mexican trainee teachers in 2014 says the government of President Enrique Pena Neto has hampered its inquiries. | A panel of international experts investigating the disappearance of 43 Mexican trainee teachers in 2014 says the government of President Enrique Pena Neto has hampered its inquiries. |
In its scathing final report, the experts also dismissed the conclusions of the official inquiry. | In its scathing final report, the experts also dismissed the conclusions of the official inquiry. |
They said officials failed to pursue the investigative lines they suggested. | They said officials failed to pursue the investigative lines they suggested. |
The case provoked outrage in Mexico, leading to street protests against perceived impunity. | The case provoked outrage in Mexico, leading to street protests against perceived impunity. |
"The delays in obtaining evidence that could be used to figure out possible lines of investigation translates into a decision to (allow) impunity," said the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) in its report. | |
The panel was commissioned by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). | The panel was commissioned by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). |
The trainee teachers went missing after taking part in a protest in the south-western city of Iguala, in Guerrero state, in September 2014. | The trainee teachers went missing after taking part in a protest in the south-western city of Iguala, in Guerrero state, in September 2014. |
Mexican prosecutors said they were detained by corrupt policemen under the orders of the mayor of Iguala, Jose Luis Abarca, and handed over to a local criminal gang (Guerreros Unidos), who killed the 43 men and burned their bodies in a local landfill site. | Mexican prosecutors said they were detained by corrupt policemen under the orders of the mayor of Iguala, Jose Luis Abarca, and handed over to a local criminal gang (Guerreros Unidos), who killed the 43 men and burned their bodies in a local landfill site. |
Relatives have always rejected this version, saying the government was trying to cover up the involvement of senior politicians and army officers in the killings. | Relatives have always rejected this version, saying the government was trying to cover up the involvement of senior politicians and army officers in the killings. |
Analysis from Katy Watson, BBC News, Mexico City | Analysis from Katy Watson, BBC News, Mexico City |
The work of the independent experts began in March 2015 at the request of the victims' families - a mission that was approved by the government. | The work of the independent experts began in March 2015 at the request of the victims' families - a mission that was approved by the government. |
Six months later, they issued their first report, contesting the official version of events - a version that the government had called the "historic truth". | Six months later, they issued their first report, contesting the official version of events - a version that the government had called the "historic truth". |
This second and final report once again puts the government's investigation back in the spotlight. | This second and final report once again puts the government's investigation back in the spotlight. |
The experts say they have found evidence of torture and bribery among many of those who were detained over the students' disappearance. | The experts say they have found evidence of torture and bribery among many of those who were detained over the students' disappearance. |
They also say they were met with obstructionism by authorities which thwarted their efforts to get to the bottom of what happened. | They also say they were met with obstructionism by authorities which thwarted their efforts to get to the bottom of what happened. |
More than a year and a half after the students' disappearance, we are no closer to knowing what really happened that night but one thing's for certain: the credibility of the Mexican government is more in doubt than ever. | More than a year and a half after the students' disappearance, we are no closer to knowing what really happened that night but one thing's for certain: the credibility of the Mexican government is more in doubt than ever. |
Missing students: Mexico's violent reality | |
"The independent panel has not found a shred of evidence to show that the bodies were burned at the landfill site in (the town of) Cocula," said Francisco Fox, a member of the IACHR during a press conference in Mexico City. | "The independent panel has not found a shred of evidence to show that the bodies were burned at the landfill site in (the town of) Cocula," said Francisco Fox, a member of the IACHR during a press conference in Mexico City. |
He said that the remains of 17 people found at the site do not belong to any of the trainee teachers. | |
"There is evidence that the mobile phones of the students were active hours after or, in some cases, days after the time when they would have been burned," he added. | "There is evidence that the mobile phones of the students were active hours after or, in some cases, days after the time when they would have been burned," he added. |
The students had left the town of Ayotzinapa, where they studied, to take part in a protest in Iguala on 26 September 2014. | The students had left the town of Ayotzinapa, where they studied, to take part in a protest in Iguala on 26 September 2014. |
They were complaining against the employment policy of local authorities, whom they accused of discriminating against teachers of a rural background. | They were complaining against the employment policy of local authorities, whom they accused of discriminating against teachers of a rural background. |
The students' protest reportedly disturbed a planned event organised by Maria de los Angeles Pineda, wife of the Iguala mayor Jose Luis Abarca, who had political ambitions. | The students' protest reportedly disturbed a planned event organised by Maria de los Angeles Pineda, wife of the Iguala mayor Jose Luis Abarca, who had political ambitions. |
The pair went on the run but were arrested weeks later in Mexico City. | The pair went on the run but were arrested weeks later in Mexico City. |
Maria de los Angeles Pineda has been charged with involvement in organised crime. | Maria de los Angeles Pineda has been charged with involvement in organised crime. |