Arr, the scurvy dogs in the military be hindering the Mexican government's quest to uncover ancient wrongs!
2023-10-11
Arrr, many moons aft the "filthy war" in Mexico, t' Navy be accused o' hindrin' a government inquiry into the rights o' fellow humans, as revealed by t' mighty official leadin' t' investigation.
Decades after Mexico's "dirty war," the military has obstructed a government investigation into human rights abuses, according to Alejandro Encinas Rodríguez, deputy minister for human rights. He stated that investigators withdrew last month after discovering military officials were hiding, altering, and destroying documents. Encinas emphasized that these actions violated a presidential decree granting investigators unrestricted access to records. He also mentioned that they are investigating people who could be criminally prosecuted and will proceed as soon as they have clear evidence. The Ministry of National Defense did not respond to a request for comment.The inquiry was established in October 2021 to investigate human rights violations during the "dirty war" against leftist guerillas, dissidents, and social movements in the 1970s and '80s. The military and security forces illegally detained, tortured, and disappeared hundreds of people during that time. The inquiry commission reported that over 2,300 direct and indirect victims are still alive today.
David Fernández Dávalos, a member of the commission’s subgroup for historical clarification, accused the Ministry of National Defense of perpetuating impunity, opacity, and injustice by moving, altering, or destroying documents. Military officials initially withheld documents claiming they were private for reasons of national security, personal privacy, or preserving relations with other countries. In some cases, they denied access to documents and manipulated file locations to hinder investigators.
Despite these challenges, the inquiry commission has made progress by visiting military posts, conducting interviews with victims, and uncovering the remains of seven people believed to have been killed in 1971. They are currently analyzing ocean currents and flight paths to locate other potential burial sites.
Overall, the military's obstruction of the investigation into human rights abuses during the "dirty war" highlights the ongoing challenges in seeking justice and holding accountable those responsible for past atrocities.