AMLO defends proceeding from Gertz in the Ayotzinapa case

Arturo Sanchez and Georgina Saldierna

Newspaper La Jornada
Saturday October 1, 2022, p. 5

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador yesterday defended the actions of the attorney general, Alejandro Gertz Manero, in the Ayotzinapa case, emphasizing that his attitude has been one of collaboration.

I do not have a single act, an action, a procedure contrary to the purpose of clarifying what happened and punishing those responsible and finding the young people. that’s my testimonyhe pointed out regarding the official in his morning conference.

However, he said he did not doubt that in the prosecutor’s office there have been people – and possibly still there – who did not want the process of requesting arrest warrants against those allegedly involved in the disappearance of the 43 normalistas to be carried out. He included people who are dedicated to managing the conflict and wish that nothing would ever be resolved, because they live from it.

The president made these statements one day after the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts (GIEI) denounced obstacles and unexplained meddling of Gertz Manero in the judicial process of the case.

López Obrador indicated that he respects his point of view, but does not share it. He added that after giving him the report on the new investigations into the disappearance of the young people, what the prosecutor did is adjust to that document and act based on it.

He recalled that the investigations refer to the participation of the area commander. However, he said he did not believe that he has asked for instructions for what according to the report happened next, which was the elimination of the young. But the investigation is open.

In the Treasury room of the National Palace, the president stated that all arrest warrants will be executed and the search for the boys will continue.

He expressed his interest that the detainees, who they have the right to defensehelp and contribute to clarifying more and more what happened and who others participated.

He stressed that the Undersecretary of the Interior, Alejandro Encinas, will continue to coordinate the work of the commission in charge of the case, thanking the GIEI experts for their help and expressing his wish that they continue to participate, because their contribution has been very valuable.

López Obrador stressed that when he came to government he found a pact of silence, but despite this, he decided to move forward. He assured that in no case did he have resistance from the prosecutor or the president of the Court. He recalled that he spoke with both officials and asked for their support and collaboration. The two have always been willing to help.

He pointed out that no one told him: Is that we can’t get that high either this is unfounded, what are we getting into? or “we are going to find a way to give folder”.

He stressed that the same thing happened with the Secretary of National Defense: all the information requested by the commission was delivered.

He pointed out that he spoke with the head of that dependency so that he would provide all the documents they had in their files, and that is why the investigations advanced. When he read the commission’s report, he stated that he asked if there was evidence and was told that there was.