The January 29th headlines
touted "Coahuila launches a massive search for the missing" In a collaborative effort between the PRI
driven state and the PRI federal administration, a search for the thousands of
persons who have disappeared in the state in the last decade.
Coahuila is notorious for its disappeared. But in a widely known case, irony was not
lost. In 2008, in the capital city of Saltillo, American kidnapping expert Felix
Batista [left] was kidnapped, his body never has been found, and never will be found.
Bastista, an ASI Global consultant, was in Saltillo to speak at a conference of businessmen. He was to give advice on how to avoid being kidnapped. What was not made public is his trip to Saltillo was twofold; he was also assisting in the release of a kidnapped victim.
On the day of his kidnapping, he was eating with colleagues at a Saltillo restaurant, when he received a phone call. He told his group that he was going to meet people in a white truck, that would be forwarding him information. He left the restaurant and was seen calmly leaving with persons. He was never seen or heard from again.
The big question was why he would leave with complete strangers, but that was answered when it was revealed he was in Saltillo on a case.
Bastista, an ASI Global consultant, was in Saltillo to speak at a conference of businessmen. He was to give advice on how to avoid being kidnapped. What was not made public is his trip to Saltillo was twofold; he was also assisting in the release of a kidnapped victim.
On the day of his kidnapping, he was eating with colleagues at a Saltillo restaurant, when he received a phone call. He told his group that he was going to meet people in a white truck, that would be forwarding him information. He left the restaurant and was seen calmly leaving with persons. He was never seen or heard from again.
The big question was why he would leave with complete strangers, but that was answered when it was revealed he was in Saltillo on a case.
None of the facts were known until
Wiki Leaks released a 2009 cable. In the
cable it reveals a meeting on June 23, when Consulate Monterrey officials
traveled to Saltillo, to meet with Governor Humberto Moreira [below left] and his new law
enforcement team including the attorney general of the state.
The session was principally
intended for law enforcement agency representatives to meet their Coahuila
counterparts, however, after the meeting,
a side meeting took place. In that meeting the Governor and the State Attorney General gave
information into the December 2008 kidnapping of Felix Batista.
They stated that their intel
information indicated that Mr. Batista had been killed shortly after his
abduction; they expected to arrest individuals identified as the perpetrators ”shortly”.
From the cable posted on WikiLeaks:
“Per intel information they had
uncovered, Mr. Batista was murdered a few days after his abduction, with the
body being `cooked’ to dispose of the remains. — The state had identified the
Gulf Cartel Saltillo plaza boss, `Tatanka,’ as the intellectual author of the
crime.”
As to why Batista was taken, state
authorities had not uncovered information to answer that question, and no
ransom was ever demanded. The kidnapped
victim is one of thousands missing in Coahuila, those the authorities contend
they are searching for.
In the search, teams consisted primarily of state soldiers,
mostly of GATE the state special forces agency, and federal experts with “state
of the art” equipment. Initially, it was
announced 200 elements (soldiers and experts) would be deployed. Magically the number grew to 250, and ended
with reports of 300.
Whatever the number, I am calling
the search bogus. A public relations
move. Governor Ruben Moreira,[left] as his
governor brother before him, reaches for showy PR moves to reflect competence and
concern for the suffering by Coahuilenses.
Coahuila is the third largest
land mass in Mexico. The border it
shares with Texas is 318 miles long, and approximately 50 thousand square kilometres
comprises the northern region of the state, the very area of the “massive
search”, by a whopping 200-300 elements over a 12 day period.
The search team mobilized to a
prison in Piedras Negras, they explained “information” gleaned from persons, hearing of
dead bodies being buried within the prison and that the informants had obtained the
information from incarcerated persons, while those convicts were free. Based on that “information”, the
search spent time investigating within the prison.
Authorities announced the
discovering of remains at a ranch in Zaragoza, The photos with discovered
remains were never brought forth nor updates given once the headline faded.
Subsequent to the ranch findings,
additional discoveries were never mentioned, or the results of the prison
search. So it is stunning that at the
end of the search it was announced that remains were found in 7 cities,
including in Monclova 158 miles south.
Ridiculous photographs graced
Coahuila newspapers in its coverage of the search. Photographs of 8 men watching one man digging a hole. Or another photo with several
elements watching a dog doing likewise.
It was what was not depicted in photographs that are all telling. No photographs of the high tech equipment being used in Coahuila and no photographs of the remains found in 7 cities.
It was what was not depicted in photographs that are all telling. No photographs of the high tech equipment being used in Coahuila and no photographs of the remains found in 7 cities.
I contacted friends in 3 of the
cities where “remains were discovered”, I asked about mobilizations and search
teams in or in the area bordering the cities. Not
one could acknowledge this as occurring.
There was a slight build up in deployment of GATE but nothing out of the
usual.
This is the photo authorities released as proof bodies were incinerated |
From Zocalo:
“Saltillo -. Remains of bodies
were found in the municipalities of Allende, Guerrero, Acuña, Piedras Negras,
Monclova, Zaragoza and Morelos through the search operation conducted by the
Deputy for Research of Persons. Juan
José Yáñez Arreola , head of the agency, said the evidence located in pits
shall be classified and sent to the laboratories of the Scientific Division of
the Federal Police in Mexico City, to analyze DNA and determine if the remains are human. "the operation was carried out with the
information we had of 11 municipalities which were reviewed and the possibility of returning to
this region of the state is not ruled out, "he said.”
Don’t hold your breath.
Meanwhile, authorities insist fragmented remains were found belonging to 500 bodies. Since the findings were in bone and skull fragments, one wonders how they know they were derived from 500 people? They, themselves reported yesterday of not yet conducting tests that will determine if the fragments are human and have not done DNA.
Some information used to write this post was sourced from: WikiLeaks, Zócalo, Borderland Beat, Vanguardia and info from my pal Lacy
Some information used to write this post was sourced from: WikiLeaks, Zócalo, Borderland Beat, Vanguardia and info from my pal Lacy
great stuff on wiki, I wondered if they ever found Batista body.
ReplyDeletethank you!
Ruben Moreira was placed as governor of Coahuila to make sure that Humberto would not be prosecuted after his very large scale robbery was discovered. Since Humberto financed a good portion of EPN's campaign, he's covered on the federal side, too. Humberto is back in Mexico, having earned a Master's degree in Spain, financed by a scholarship from the teachers' union (so he says) and also paid for with his savings. Hell of a retirement plan. He has stated his intention of running for office again, perhaps for president of Viva Mexico, or wherever the party asks him to run. I agree with Chivis; the so-called search for remains is another PR move, meaningless, an insult to the victims and the families of the desaparecidos.
ReplyDelete"Ridiculous photographs graced Coahuila newspapers in its coverage of the search. Photographs of 8 men watching one man pick axing a hole of a foot depth"
ReplyDeleteI love it,well done Chivis,,,you saw the idiocy of these claims.The so-called high tech approach of finding all the lost ones.Nothing more than stunts.
Disgraces the memory of the lost ones,as if any Moreira cared.
Can someone put a price on Humbertos head to make sure he doesnt rape Mexico again?
ReplyDeleteI agree, very well done.
ReplyDeleteRuben and Humberto may be in a personal war, but make no mistake they share the same genetics and share commitment to corruption. excellent post, only Coahuilenses can write about this stuff.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, authorities insist fragmented remains were found belonging to 500 bodies. Since the findings were in bone and skull fragments, one wonders how they know they were derived from 500 people?
ReplyDeleteThey themselves report not yet conducting tests that will determine if the fragments are human and have not done DNA.
I heard about the 500 and laughed. for such a small research over a huge area they did it in so little time. this is a joke. a bad joke. they will give fragments to families and say 'here is your love one may he rest in peace'
ReplyDeletethen 500 is erased from the missing list. government says it is 1300? so they solve 40% of the missing people cases?
wow coahuila, so fucking talented
Yes, confirmation of military personnel,cadaver dogs & equipment n the cinco manantiales, especially Allende, morelos & Zaragoza. Said ranch n prior report (zaragoza) where human remains & articles were found use to belong to a narco from a prior era. People in this region r to terrified to speak up .The mass abductions & subsequent events that followed were left unheard & un-investigated. I'm sure with certain captures they r gathering info on burial sites & number of people abducted.
ReplyDelete@chivis excellent reporting. we have ties to saltillo and spend quite a bit of time there. we follow and appreciate your work... is it general mistrust about anything that comes from the pri backed state and fed gov't or is there something else? i mean, no doubt the numbers are exaggerated...but there has to be a lot of bodies out there, even a novice could see disturbed ground and dig. what would they have to gain for this pr move by inflating the numbers? wouldnt they just be advertising their own past collusion/incompetence? another thing, what was the motive behind batista's kidnapping/murder? to prove a point that no one is safe? thats pretty bold...
ReplyDeleteIs this a case of self-incrimination by
ReplyDeletethe authorities of Coahuila?! If you think about closely, the government could conceivably know every person in the state who's missing since they were in cahoots with the Zetas under the governorship of Pelon's brother Bert. I don't know -- maybe something to think about.?