The municipality of Taxco de Alarcón, in the state of Guerrero, has been affected by the phenomenon of forced disappearance of people, which has caused fear and anguish among the population.
According to the National Search Commission, from 2006 to 2020, 1,270 people have been reported missing in Guerrero, of which 1,011 are men and 259 are women. The state ranks fifth in the country in terms of the number of disappearances.
In Taxco, a tourist destination known for its silver production and colonial architecture, the situation is alarming. According to the local human rights organization Tlachinollan, at least 60 people have disappeared in the municipality in the last two years, mainly young men.
The relatives of the victims have denounced the lack of effective actions by the authorities to locate their loved ones, as well as the indifference and negligence of the prosecutors and police officers in charge of the investigations.
Some of the cases that have caused outrage are those of Luis Ángel Abarca, a 16-year-old student who disappeared on November 27, 2020, after leaving his home to go to a nearby store; and José Luis Tinoco, a 29-year-old taxi driver who disappeared on January 2, 2021, after picking up a passenger.
The families of Luis Ángel and José Luis have organized protests and marches to demand justice and the return of their relatives alive. They have also received threats and intimidation from unknown people who have told them to stop looking for them.
The disappearances in Taxco are linked to the presence of organized crime groups that operate in the region, such as the Cartel del Sur, Los Rojos, and Los Ardillos, which are involved in drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and murder.
The violence and insecurity in Taxco have also affected the economic and social development of the municipality, which depends largely on tourism and commerce. Many businesses have closed or reduced their activities due to the fear of being attacked or extorted.
The inhabitants of Taxco demand that the authorities at all levels of government take urgent and effective measures to stop the disappearances, find the missing people, punish the perpetrators, and guarantee the safety and human rights of the population.
Source: Milenio
