Voices of Mexico no. 98

Our Voice

The history of all peoples is marked by sudden events whose cruelty shakes the collective consciousness, and, unfortunately, Mexico is no exception. With great sorrow, we are obligated to refer to the forced disappearance of 43 young students from the rural community of Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, in late September 2014, since solidarity with them and their families is an ethical duty. We must recognize that poverty and violence feed each other in this country and that our circumstances cannot be changed by decree. While the current government has been betting on centering its media strategy on the positive aspects of a structural reforms agenda, distancing itself from the previous Felipe Calderón administration’s emphasis on the fight against organized crime, the consequences of what happened in Guerrero, the state nationwide with the second largest number of people living in poverty, have been to discredit the regime as a whole. The lack of an immediate, effective response by federal authorities to deal with this ominous case has reinforced the Mexican population’s distrust and indignation. Organized and with the support of different groups in other countries, that population continues to demonstrate to demand justice, raising the demand “You took them alive; we want them back alive.” Other particularly keenly felt causes have been added to this one, summarizing our demand for an end to corruption and impunity.