Mexico: Information on the 18 February 1996 massacre of nine peasants by the Mexican army near the town of Cayuca de Benitez, state of Guerrero
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MEX27777.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Mexico: Information on the 18 February 1996 massacre of nine peasants by the Mexican army near the town of Cayuca de Benitez, state of Guerrero, 1 September 1997, MEX27777.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac5198.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Several reports state that nine peasants were killed by state judicial police officers in the state of Guerrero in February 1996, however, all five reports differ as to which date the incidents occurred (AI 22 Feb. 1996; Austin American-Statesman 24 Feb. 1996; MEXICO UPDATE 21 Feb. 1996; Latinamerica Press 29 Feb. 1996; San Antonio Express-News 25 Feb. 1996). All five sources state that the nine peasants were killed during three separate incidents (ibid.).
Amnesty International states that judicial police officers killed three peasants as they attempted to kidnap them in the community of La Florida, between Atoyac and El Paraíso (22 Feb. 1996). The Latinamerica Press article states that the police were trying to extort money from the peasants before killing them (29 Feb. 1996). Following the murder of the three peasants, five of their relatives were also killed by police while travelling to Acapulco to file a complaint about the murders (AI 22 Feb. 1996; Austin American-Statesman 24 Feb. 1996; MEXICO UPDATE 21 Feb. 1996; Latinamerica Press 29 Feb. 1996). A 19 February 1996 Reuters report states that these five peasants were killed by police in the town of Cayuca de Benitez, 12 miles from Acapulco. The same report adds that the five men were involved in a robbery and that they had attacked the police (ibid.).
Furthermore, the president of the Coffee Producers Cooperative La Pintada and a government official are quoted as saying that the murders were linked to drug trafficking (MEXICO UPDATE 21 Feb. 1996; Reuters 19 Feb. 1996).
The ninth victim, who had helped with the investigation of the original murders, was found dead near El Paraíso (AI 22 Feb. 1996; Austin American-Statesman 24 Feb. 1996; MEXICO UPDATE 21 Feb. 1996; Latinamerica Press 29 Feb. 1996).
For additional information on the murder of these nine peasants in the state of Guerrero, please consult the attached documents.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amnesty International. 22 February 1996. Urgent Action: Possible Extrajudicial Executions/Fear for Safety. (AI Index: AMR 41/08/96)
Austin American-Statesman. 24 February 1996. Philip True. "Rogue Cops Believed to be Responsible for Mexico Killings; Guerrero Residents Asking for Army to Return After Latest Wave of Deaths." (NEXIS)
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 29 February 1996. John Ross. Vol. 28, No. 7. "Guerrilla Legend Lives on in Guerrero."
MEXICO UPDATE [Mexico City]. 21 February 1996. Vol. 2, No. 60. "Democracy: Nine Massacred in Guerrero." [Internet]
[Internet]
San Antonio Express-News. 25 February 1996. Philip True. "Mexican Villagers' Rage is Continuing to Fester." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 26 Feb.-10 Mar. 1996, Vol. 4, No. 3., pp.6-7)
Reuters. 19 February 1996. "Eight Killed as Violence Returns to Mexican State." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Amnesty International. 22 February 1996. Urgent Action: Possible Extrajudicial Executions/Fear for Safety. (AI Index: AMR 41/08/96)
Austin American-Statesman. 24 February 1996. Philip True. "Rogue Cops Believed to be Responsible for Mexico Killings; Guerrero Residents Asking for Army to Return After Latest Wave of Deaths." (NEXIS)
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 29 February 1996. John Ross. Vol. 28, No. 7. "Guerrilla Legend Lives on in Guerrero," p. 3.
MEXICO UPDATE [Mexico City]. 21 February 1996. Vol. 2, No. 60. "Democracy: Nine Massacred in Guerrero." [Internet]
[Internet]
San Antonio Express-News. 25 February 1996. Philip True. "Mexican Villagers' Rage is Continuing to Fester." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 26 Feb.-10 Mar. 1996, Vol. 4, No. 3., pp.6-7)
Reuters. 19 February 1996. "Eight Killed as Violence Returns to Mexican State." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Report 1997. 1997.
DIRB's Indexed Media Review: Mexico. 1996.
Human Rights Watch World Report 1997. 1997.
Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 1996.
News from Americas Watch [New York]. 1996-1997.
Electronic sources: DIRB Databases, Global News Bank, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).