DESAPARECIÓN FORZADA EN VERACRUZ
El Estado de Veracruz, en el golfo de México, está inmerso en una espiral de violencia iniciada con el gobierno de Javier Duarte (2010-2016) sospechoso de corrupción, delincuencia organizada y el asesinato de periodistas. Las disputas entre el Cártel de Jalisco y los Zetas por el control de negocios del narco sembró un escenario de desapariciones sistemáticas y pasividad de las autoridades. En octubre de 2016 tras ser acusado colaboración con el crimen organizado Javier Duarte huyó del país en uno de los momentos en que los casos de desaparecidos aumentaron hasta convertirse en una crisis humanitaria.
Debido a la pasividad y colaboración de las autoridades con el narco, madres con hijos desaparecidos han tenido que organizarse en colectivos como ’Solecito’ para buscar justicia. Sin experiencia previa, estas madres están teniendo mejores resultados que la propia policía en la búsqueda de cuerpos. Sus peores sospechas se confirmaron cuando comenzaron a excavar en la zona de ‘Colinas de Santa Fe’, al norte del Puerto de Veracruz, y dieron con los primeros cuerpos. Los datos más recientes cuentan más de 250 calaveras encontradas. Aun con más de la mitad del terreno por excavar, ya se habla de la zona como el cementerio clandestino más grande de México.
Muchas madres hablan de sufrir problemas mentales tras las desapariciones. Problemas como ver a sus hijos en otras personas o en ilusiones. Para estas personas una de las cosas más difíciles es no haber tenido la oportunidad de dar el último adiós. La desaparición obliga a las familias a vivir en un estado de angustia al ser imposible determinar si sus familiares siguen vivos o muertos. Tras la desaparición algunos cuerpos aparecen en los márgenes de las carreteras de Veracruz. Otros desaparecen para siempre atando a las madres a una búsqueda sin fin. Viviendo entre la esperanza de encontrar a sus hijos con vida y a la vez ansiosas de encontrar un cuerpo que confirme la muerte para poder llorarlo y descansar de la búsqueda.
ENG
The State of Veracruz, in the Gulf of Mexico, is immersed in a spiral of violence initiated with the government of Javier Duarte (2010-2016) suspected of corruption, organized crime and the murder of journalists. The disputes between the Jalisco Cartel and the Zetas over control of the narco's business sowed a scenario of systematic disappearances and passivity from the authorities responsible for investigating these crimes. In October 2016, after being accused of collaborating with organized crime, Javier Duarte fled the country at one of the times when cases of missing persons increased to become a humanitarian crisis.
Due to the passivity and collaboration of the authorities with the narco, mothers with missing children have had to organize in groups such as ’Colectivo Solecito’ to seek justice. Without previous experience, these mothers are having better results than the police themselves in the search for bodies. Their worst suspicions were confirmed when they began to dig in the area of ‘Santa Fe Hills’, north of the Port of Veracruz, and found the first bodies. The most recent data count more than 250 skulls found. Even with more than half of the land to be excavated, the area is already referred to as the largest clandestine cemetery in Mexico.
Many mothers talk about suffering mental problems after disappearances. Problems like seeing your children in other people or in illusions. For these people one of the most difficult things is not to have had the chance to say goodbye. The disappearance forces the families to live in a state of anguish because it is impossible to determine if their relatives are still alive or dead. After the disappearance some bodies appear on the banks of the roads of Veracruz. Others disappear forever, tying mothers to an endless search. Living in the hope of finding their children alive and at the same time anxious to find a body that confirms death in order to cry and rest from the search.
October 31, 2016
Perla Damian watches the room of her disappeared son. She keeps a bed for him, even though he’s been missing for years. Her son, Victor had 16 years old when was last seen at his job when some policemen took him with them. The UN is studying the case as a forced disappearance due to the implication of authorities in the crime.
November 1, 2016
Family and friends of a man who passed away from natural causes build an altar to mourn him and say goodbye in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, Mexico.
October 31, 2016
View of the ground and the sky in the area of Colinas de Santa Fe, in Veracruz, where an established group created by mothers of missing people, have discovered more than 105 clandestine mass graves. Until now they have found more than 250 skulls and experts talked about it as the biggest narco cementery of Mexico.
October 31, 2016
Perla Damián, whose son is missing too, stares vacantly into the horizon while her mother stares longingly at her. They're going back home after a ceremony in honor of the people who have disappeared in the area of Colinas de Santa Fe, in Veracruz, where more than 105 mass graves have been discovered. Her son, Victor, disappeared when he was 16 years old. The UN is studying the case due to the implication of police officers in the crime
November 6, 2016
Relatives of missing people in Boca del Rio, Puerto de Veracruz, reading 'La Unión', a critical newspaper with the former governor Javier Duarte on its front page. Its founder, Moisés Sánchez, was murdered for reporting on the rising insecurity problems in Veracruz.
November 8, 2016
Guadalupe Contreras, a professional "tracker", takes a rest after a long day of searching, trying to find bodies in the area of Colinas de Santa Fe, in Veracruz. In this area, an established group created by mothers of missing people, have discovered more than 105 clandestine mass graves.
The son of Guadalupe disappeared as a result of the violence in the state of Guerrero. While searching for his son's body, he became an expert tracker. Today he helps other people to find their relatives
November 8, 2016
After a long day searching for bodies in ‘Colinas de Santa Fe', a mother looks at the photos of the bones that have been found in the area. Until now they have discovered more than 200 bodies and experts talked about it as the biggest narco cementery of Mexico.
