Dr Benjamin Smith, Associate Professor of Latin American History in the School of Comparative American Studies at the University of Warwick, has provided an expert analysis of the situation in Mexico following the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students.

Dr Smith's analysis is available in both English and Spanish.

English:

Reports indicate that federal police gunned down 16 civilians in western Mexico earlier this year. According to the testimony of 39 witnesses collected by Proceso reporter, Laura Castellanos, federal police murdered 16 protestors outside the municipal offices of Apatzingan, Michoacan on 15 January. These witnesses contradict government reports, which claimed that only eleven persons were killed accidentally in a shoot out. The recent revelations have generated considerable public outrage coming so soon after the disappearance of the 43 Ayotzinapa students. Repeated cyber attacks against sites which have covered the story also indicate that those in power are keen to limit the story’s reach. 

 

Spanish:

Las policías federales mataron a 16 ciudadanos en el oeste de México en enero 15 de este año. Según las testimonias de 39 testigos, recogidas por el periodista Laura Castellanos, la policías federales asesinaron a 16 manifestantes afuera del palacio municipal de Apatzingan, Michoacán. Estos testigos contradicen los informes del gobierno, que dicen que solamente 11 personas se murieron agarrados en medio del fuego cruzado. Las revelaciones han generado indignación en combinación con la desaparición de los estudiantes de Ayotzinapa. Los ciber-ataques contra los sitios de web que cargaron la historia también indican que los elites están tratando a limitar el alcance de la historia.