MEXICO CITY, October 27 (RIA Novosti) — The newly elected interim governor of the Guerrero Mexican state has set up a truth commission to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the 43 students in Iguana, Mexico.
“We need [a truth commission], so as not to lynch [suspects], but to establish the truth and for justice to prevail. We cannot hold our heads high if we do not find the culprits of these genocidal acts,” Rogelio Ortega Martinez told journalists Monday.
Martinez added that the truth commission will consist of “respectable authorities” of “indisputable” reputation.
Martinez replaced the former mayor Angel Aguirre who voluntarily left office following strong demand from social and political groups protesting against the incident which occurred on September 26.
According to ongoing investigations, the local police and members of organized crime gangs attacked the students, who were holding demonstrations against imposed educational reforms, based on orders from the former governor. Other than the 43 missing students, six were killed.
The local authorities have since appointed government forces to search for the students and control the situation in Iguana, and nearby towns.
The interim governor also called on the Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto to aid in the ongoing investigations and to facilitate the safe release of the students being detained because of the demonstration.
Mexico’s General Prosecution Office had earlier announced a reward of 1.5 million pesos (about $111,000) for any information on each missing student, as well as any information that can help identity the suspects involved in the disappearance.
Meanwhile, former governor Angel Aguirre, who is wanted for questioning regarding the claims on the orders he gave, is currently on the run.
