Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, has opened an investigation into the recent massacre in Tanhuato, where 42 civilians were apparently executed. Eyewitnesses’ accounts and new evidence show that police did slaughter 42 people, in the western state of Michoacán.
“By how the bodies were laid out, some of them undressed, this appeared to be more of a massacre than a police operation,” Jose Ignacio Cuevas, Mayor of Tanhuato, told Animal Politico.
“There was not one single execution, I can say that categorically,” Enrique Galindo, head of Mexico’s federal police, told reporters. However, Raúl Benítez, a security analyst at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said the government’s version is “not credible”. “Any analyst who knows anything about war knows this was not a combat,” he added.
The 42 suspected ‘criminals’ died May 22, during a three-hour gun battle on a ranch. Mexican officials say the fight began when police officers came under fire while responding to a report of armed men taking over the Rancho del Sol, in Ecuandureo.
Federal police claim the victims were armed cartel members and engaged the federal police after a traffic stop; however, evidence suggests there were no illegal activities going on at the ranch and that this is yet another case of federal forces committing a massacre, and not a shootout of drug members against police, as the government has reported.
The official account shows many similarities to other massacres that have occurred in the past year, in which Mexican security forces have been implicated. 22 people were killed in Tlatlaya in June 2014, 43 students from Ayotzinapa disappeared in September 2014, and most recently 16 people were killed in Apatzingán, where investigative reports released in April, directly contradicted the original police account given in January 2015.
Its looking like another massacre and cover up by Mexican police. 42 citizens killed by police in #Tanhuato pic.twitter.com/RRU8Oceqxz
— Viva la causa! (@70torinoman) May 24, 2015
Almost nude, unarmed “attacker” in #Tanhuato?? pic.twitter.com/we5CtcAtUQ Or victim of murderous #MexGov? @guardian @BBCWorld @losangelespress — Justicia Ayotzinapa (@antomadra) May 23, 2015
After #Tlatlaya the Mexican govt will have a tough time selling 42 dead bad guys and 1 dead cop as a “fair” fight. #Tanhuato
— Gabriel Stargardter (@gabstargardter) May 23, 2015
This photo, apparently taken of an unarmed victim today, is fueling suggestion of extrajudicial killings #Tanhuato pic.twitter.com/Ohwu7P8jz2 — Duncan Tucker (@DuncanTucker) May 22, 2015
#Tanhuato: Lo desnudan, lo golpean y después lo matan. ¿Enfrentamiento o masacre? pic.twitter.com/AwLOVRYbz9
— Anonymous Hispano (@anonopshispano) May 22, 2015
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