Ei-iE

Despite international pressure for a thorough investigation, and demonstrations that continue to sweep the country, the fate of the 43 students who disappeared two months ago in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, remains unclear.

Teachers, parents and students have been mobilising for the past two months, demanding justice and a fair investigation of the events surrounding the disappearance of 43 student teachers of the school Isidro Burgos in Ayotzinapa, in the State of Guerrero, Mexico, on the 26th of September.

Protesters taking to the streets have voiced their anger by the presumed massacre, and by a lack of transparency of the investigations being carried out. On the 20th of November, 11 protesters were arrested on the main square of Mexico City before being moved to the high security prison of Veracruz awaiting trial.

International pressure

The voices in Mexico demanding a fair investigation have been largely joined by the international community. The United Nations and the European Union have condemned the disappearance of the Iguala students, while the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights and the Organisation of American States have both demanded a transparent, and thorough inquiry. Amnesty International’s appeal for urgent action follows the same lines, demanding an urgent search, justice and reparation.

In a letter to the Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto, Education International (EI) has joined the international request for investigation and transparency. It stresses the concern of education unions worldwide, and calls on Mexican authorities to ensure that there shall be no impunity for the perpetrators of the crimes in Iguala, that there be an objective and impartial investigation of the facts to prevent political manipulation, and that the criminalisation of social protest in Mexico be stopped.