Although the current state administration headed by Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, which is a few weeks away from ending, has seen an increase in the number of people sentenced for the crimes of forced disappearance and disappearance committed by individuals compared to the previous administration of former President Jorge Aristóteles Sandoval, it remains minimal compared to the number of missing persons.
Figures from the National Registry of Missing Persons indicate that from December 6, 2018 to October 27, 2024, 13,516 people disappeared, of which 6,822 were found (977 dead and 5,856 alive) and 6,683 remain missing to date.
Data from the State Attorney General’s Office obtained through transparency indicate that during the administration of former Governor Aristóteles Sandoval Díaz, zero sentences were recorded for the crime of forced disappearance, that is, in cases in which elements of a public security corporation, state or municipal, participated; while in this six-year term of Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, 21 sentences were recorded as of September 10.
In the crime of disappearance committed by individuals, that is, disappearances committed by members of criminal groups, only four sentences were recorded in the previous state administration; while in this government of Alfaro Ramírez, one hundred sentences were recorded as of the same date.
In this way, there are a total of 121 sentences for the crime of forced disappearance and disappearance committed by individuals in this state government compared to only four in the government of Aristóteles Sandoval Díaz.
“Indeed, we can clearly see the increase in the number of sentences for the crime of disappearance committed by private individuals as well as for the crime of forced disappearance, comparing, therefore, the statistics, that is, the total number of missing persons in the state of Jalisco, as well as the resources that have been invested throughout this administration to strengthen the justice system and, in particular, the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Missing Persons,” said Ana Carolina Chimiak, coordinator of the advocacy area of the Center for Justice for Peace and Development (CEPAD).
Thus, if we compare the 13,516 missing persons (including the 6,822 already located) since the beginning of the current administration, the total number of sentences 121 only represents 0.89 percent. If we compare it with the 6,683 that have not yet been found, the number of sentences is equivalent to 1.8%.
Few people have been brought to justice for the crimes of forced disappearance and disappearance committed by private individuals
In either case, very few people are brought to justice for committing these crimes, taking into account the number of cases of missing persons.
“This number of sentences seems extremely minimal and, unfortunately, because the percentage of impunity in terms of the magnitude of the problem continues to be almost absolute in what corresponds to the crimes of forced disappearance and disappearance committed by private individuals,” said Ana Carolina Chimiak.
The coordinator of the incidence area of the Center for Justice for Peace and Development (CEPAD) detailed that from 2019 to 2024, 299 public servants were prosecuted for the crime of forced disappearance, but, for example, only 30% of these cases were linked to criminal proceedings.
“So it means that this capacity to be able to prove responsibility has also been extremely weak throughout this time.”
Source: eloccidental
