Zetas had support from police in the 2011 Allende massacre says CNDH; asks PGR to act

Translated by El Profe for Borderland Beat from Animal Politico

The CNDH asked the Attorney General's Office to investigate officials from the municipality of Allende, Coahuila, for their probable link with the 'Los Zetas' group responsible for the 2011 massacre. 

Foto: Kirsten Luce / National Geographic. Imágenes de la edición julio 2017

In March 2011, an armed group appeared in Allende, Coahuila, destroyed residences and deprived dozens of people of their freedom, which, according to statements made by alleged criminals, was carried out with the consent of the municipal police, according to the National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH), when issuing recommendation 10/2018.

In that document, it is stated that the right to freedom and personal integrity was violated, with the forced disappearance of 38 people, including 3 minors and diverse residents of Allende, whose identity could not be determined.

Those events, he explained, are attributable to people who -according to the ministerial investigation on the case- accepted to be part of the criminal group of the "Zetas," and said that they acted with the support or acquiescence of security elements of the municipality.

Another violation of rights in the case, he added, was "the legality, legal security and personal liberty derived from the arbitrary detentions committed against 34 people, as well as various inhabitants of the Municipality of Allende, whose identity was not possible to establish and the illegal deprivation of the freedom of 5 minors, attributable to public servants of the Public Security Secretariat of the Municipality of Allende, Coahuila."

The CNDH also determined that the right to the truth was violated, due to inaccuracies in the reports provided by the PGR, in relation to the investigation of the events that occurred, and to the proper enforcement of justice, due to the omission in the investigation of conduct that possibly constitute a crime.

Another point pointed out by the Commission is that the right to personal security was violated, which led to the forced internal displacement of various inhabitants of the municipality of Allende.

One more violation was the inviolability of the home, "derived from the raid of Rancho 'Los Garza,' attributable to persons who, according to the ministerial actions, agreed to belong to the criminal group called "Los Zetas," who had the support of elements of the Public Security Secretariat of the Municipality of Allende, as well as the illegal detention of a victim inside a commercial establishment, attributable to elements of that secretariat."

The CNDH recommended to the PGR to initiate a file of investigation "against the public servants of the Municipality of Allende and the individuals involved in the events that occurred from March 18 to 20, 2011, due to their probable responsibility in the commission of the crime of organized crime, as well as against who are responsible for the events that are the subject of this Recommendation."

Another request to the PGR is to investigate what the Army's actions were, in view of the events that took place in Allende between March 18 and 20.

"Of the evidence that this National Commission gathered, there are two statements that mention that public servants of the Ministry of National Defense, witnessed the events that occurred from March 18 to 20, 2011, however, there were no major elements that they could accredit to the witnesses' words," said the CNDH.

"In addition, inaccuracies were noted in the reports regarding the date and time when elements of the Mexican Army were set up on the "Los Garza" ranch. Consequently, this National Organism considers that the Attorney General of the Republic, should initiate an investigation in this regard, and in case of warning of the commission of any crime, exercise criminal action against who are responsible," he added.

To the governor of Coahuila, the CNDH recommended to implement, in no more than 6 months, actions to solve and combat violence in the state, and help the municipal authorities of the border region to evaluate their police bodies, professionalize them and ensure proper performance of the public service in matters of security.

It also recommended that, in six months, it will draw up a census in which the total number of victims of internal forced displacement is established, and the necessary measures are implemented to return them to their residence.

The State Prosecutor's Office recommended continuing with the investigation into the forced disappearance of 38 people, carrying out the procedures to determine the identity of the victims of the 219 biological samples found at the "Los Garza" ranch, and investigating the commission of criminal behavior against 14 people.