Mexico: Killing of activist in Tamaulipas highlights government negligence

The killing of an activist leading the search for her daughter and thousands of others in Tamaulipas, Mexico, reveals the danger which those searching for the more than 30,000 disappeared persons in the country face every day, said Amnesty International.

Miriam Elizabeth Rodríguez Martínez was killed on the night of 10 May in the state of Tamaulipas in northern Mexico. Miriam was known for her work with groups searching for the disappeared, organizations made up primarily of relatives of victims of enforced disappearance and disappearance at the hands of non-state actors.

“Mexico has become a very dangerous place for those who are bravely dedicating their lives to the search for the disappeared. The violent killing of Miriam Rodríguez must be independently, impartially and comprehensively investigated. Serious measures must be taken to defend those searching for their loved ones. The nightmare which they face not knowing the fate or whereabouts of their relatives and the dangers they face while carrying out their work, which they undertake due to the negligent response from the authorities, are alarming,” said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.