"Guerrero is Mexico's Middle East"
The Role of the Army of the Iguala Massacre
by C.E.M.
A Borderland Beat follower gave us a heads up about this documentary(Watching them Die) available on Netflix. It is also available on other media, just Google to research availability. This is a must see film.
A Borderland Beat follower gave us a heads up about this documentary(Watching them Die) available on Netflix. It is also available on other media, just Google to research availability. This is a must see film.
The documentary was released almost a year ago, and I for one did not hear about it until now. I did find an interview of the filmmakers, which includes outtakes from the film. It is posted above. It is about a half hour long, it is filled with information. The documentary is exceptionally well done and fact based, unlike most of the others that have been released. It is the most informative documentary I have seen on the subject. It is filled with real time footage, and facts. It explains the origin of the poppy in the area and how Iguala factors into it as the most important shipping point. The documentary sheds light about the Abarcas. The former first lady and mayor of Iguala and the murder the former mayor is now charged with, that of activist Arturo Hernández Cardona. Also explained is how the people begged the federal government for help long before 2014, and they were sent home saying, “it is a local matter”. They were advised to return and file a complaint with the very people who were in collusion with organized crime. The film describes the long standing participation of federal and state forces with organized crime. Viewers will see outstanding footage of the “Night of Iguala”. With real time footage, narrative from normalistas who escaped unharmed, and graphics used to give a complete visual of the night of horror.
Why Iguala?
In 2011 the poppy replaced marijuana as the most important illegal crop in Mexico. The poppy region of Guerrero produces 42% of all opiates produced in Mexico. This region in Guerrero is to the west of Iguala, with Iguala being the concentration point for this product, an ideal formulation point to collect the drug and ship.
The government has ignored the region and issues evolving from the drug trade. They have left organized groups alone to battle it among themselves. This has left citizenry vulnerable to criminality and helpless to protect themselves against it. People say since 2011, you cannot find a family that does not have a family member that has gone missing.
The horror of Iguala did not begin with the 43
The horror did not begin on the night of September 26, 2014. The search for the 43 normalistas (student teachers) shed light on an existing reality.
Because there were not 43 people missing from the city, but hundreds. The hills of Iguala are an immense area, which has turned into a massive clandestine cemetery. The group “The Others Missing”, has registered more than 350 missing people, not counting the 43. (2012-2014) The true number of missing is estimated to be in the thousands.
Two out of every three missing cases in Guerrero, are found in Iguala and its surrounding area.