Mexican President Pledges Stronger Efforts to Find Missing Persons After Mass Grave Discovery
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Monday that she is taking steps to improve the search for missing persons after a mass grave was discovered last week. The grave, found in Teuchitlan, Jalisco state, contained ashes, bones, and hundreds of pieces of clothing, along with ovens that may have been used to burn bodies.
According to government data, Mexico has over 124,000 missing people, many of whom disappeared due to drug cartel violence. Victims are often buried in hidden or mass graves, and authorities struggle to provide answers to grieving families due to limited resources.
As reported by Reuters, the discovery of the mass grave sparked nationwide protests and vigils, with people demanding stronger action from the government. In response, President Sheinbaum said she is signing a decree to strengthen the commission responsible for searching for missing persons. She also plans to send reforms to Congress on Thursday to make it easier to identify missing people, organize information about their cases, and improve transparency.
One key change will remove the 72-hour waiting period before authorities can start investigating a disappearance. The reforms will also clearly separate cases of kidnappings from missing persons. “It’s very important that families report disappearances…and it’s our obligation to provide support,” Sheinbaum said.
The Jalisco state prosecutor’s office has set up an online platform to help families identify nearly 600 items recovered from the grave, including clothing, suitcases, and backpacks. Tests are also being conducted on bullet casings and skeleton fragments found at the site.
President Sheinbaum emphasized that her government is working with three agencies to ensure accountability and avoid impunity. She promised to provide more details about the Jalisco investigation on Wednesday.
This tragic discovery highlights the ongoing crisis of disappearances in Mexico, where families often face long waits and little information about their loved ones.
Credit to Reuters for their detailed reporting on this important issue.