Tita Radilla (@SIPAZ)
41 years after the forcible disappearance of Rosendo Radilla Pacheco, his family continues steadfastly to seek out his whereabouts. The last time Rosendo was seen alive was in the military barracks of Atoyac de Álvarez, Guerrero, within the context of the “Dirty War.” The fate of Radilla, who was a social activist, composer, and mayor of Atoyac, continue to be unknown, all this years later.
On 26 August an event was held in front of the Federal Attorney General’s Office (PGR) in Mexico City to emphasize the demand for justice in the case. At this event were present relatives of the 43 students who were forcibly disappeared 11 months ago in Iguala, a member of the UN Commission against Forcible Disappearances, as well as members of social organizations and collectives that struggle for the appearance with life of the disappeared. There were songs regarding the disappearances and at the end, white balloons were launched with the names of the disappeared.
“Since the arbitrary arrest of Mr. Radilla, his whereabouts have been unknown. The arrest and subsequent disappearance of Mr. Radilla was denounced by his family before the government. Due to the lack of response and due diligence on the part of the Mexican State, the Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACHR) released in 2009 its first sentence against the Mexican State due to grave human-rights violations, ordering a series of measures of compensation,” as the communique released by members of the Mexican Commission for the Defense and Promotion of Human Rights asserts.
It bears stressing that the Radilla case has been a paradigmatic one, as it is the first sentence in which the IACHR has condemned the Mexican State. Furthermore, it has provoked structural changes such as the reform of the code of military justice. At the present time, the petitioners continue to await the observance of this sentence.
For more information (in Spanish):
Verdad, justicia, y reparación para Rosendo Radilla y todas las víctimas de desaparición forzada en México (Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos, 26 de agosto de 2015)
La desaparición es aún una práctica de Estado, lamentan a 41 años del caso Rosendo Radilla (El Sur, 26 de agosto de 2015)
Caso Rosendo Radilla Pacheco (Comisión Mexicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos)
A 41 años de la desaparición forzada de Rosendo Radilla Pacheco: Ni verdad ni justicia (Síntesis de Guerrero, 20 de agosto de 2015)
Ven retroceso en desapariciones (La Razón, 26 de agosto de 2015)
For more information from SIPAZ (in English):
Guerrero: 40 years since the forcible disappearance of Rosendo Radilla Pacheco (2 September 2014)
Guerrero: Mexican State is denounced for failing to observe its obligations in the Rosendo Radilla Pacheco case (2 June 2014)
Guerrero: Homage to Rosendo Radilla Pacheco, disappeared by the Army (15 March 2014)
Guerrero: Soldiers harass Tita Radilla in Atoyac (7 December 2013)
Guerrero/National: SCJN affirms observance of IACHR sentences in Radilla and Cantú cases (28 September 2012)
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