Missing Mexican students' kin vow to fight on

Mexico City, Jan 27 (IANS/EFE) Four months after a tragedy that shook Mexico, relatives of 43 students who went missing in Guerrero state have warned that they will not stop searching for their loved ones, and that the people will prevent the holding of elections in the southern Mexican state June 7.

Accompanied by thousands of people supporting their struggle, the families walked from the four cardinal points of the Mexican capital Monday, marching all day to reach the Zocalo public square.

Felipe de la Cruz, the spokesperson for the relatives, said that the aim of the march was to make it clear that the movement was "stronger than ever".

"I don't know what will become of me if I don't find my child. I prefer to give my life for my son, but give him to me because I can't bear this pain any longer, I can't eat and I have no desire to go outside," said Metodia Carrillo, between sobs.

Carrillo is the mother of Luis Angel Abarca, one of the 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Normal School who disappeared Sep 26 after a clash with the police in the town of Iguala which left six people dead.

The relatives of the victims held a rally in Zocalo where they accused the army of being involved in the events that transpired Sep 26 night and demanded the resignation of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.

According to the official version which is rejected by the victims' family members, on that day the police shot at the students on the orders of then mayor of Iguala, Jose Luis Abarca, to prevent them from halting a rally by his wife, Maria de los Angeles Pineda.

The police then seized 43 students and handed them over to the Guerreros Unidos drug cartel which killed the young people and then incinerated them at a nearby dump.

A forensics institute in Austria has been able to identify one of the missing young men from the remains discovered by authorities and are expected to conduct further tests using a more promising technique.

The families of the missing students refuse to believe this version and have said that they would continue their search until the whereabouts of their children were confirmed or scientifically proven.

"They are mistaken if they believe that we are going to believe them," declared De la Cruz, adding that, despite it being a difficult time for them, the parents were stronger than ever.

Echoing the sentiments expressed by others, he reiterated the warning that "the people of Guerrero will not allow" elections to be held in that state June 7 because "to vote is to vote for organised crime", declaring that the people would govern through popular assemblies.

The victims' relatives claim that they will continue fighting to find their children no matter how long it takes and despite the authorities' attempts to close the case.

Meanwhile, Omar Garcia, a student of the Ayotzinapa Rural Normal School, expressed his hope that the protests over the disappearance of his companions would become the start of "a great social movement" to transform Mexico.

According to state government estimates, some 15,000 people participated in the march.

--IANS/EFE

ab/vt