The death of a student from the Ayotzinapa school in Mexico has triggered a wave of outrage and controversy across the country. The tragic incident took place on Thursday night, a day after the peaceful demonstration by Ayotzinapa students at the presidential palace, where they demanded justice for the 43 students who disappeared in 2014.
According to reports, a bullet, allegedly fired by a policeman from the police barracks in Chilpancingo, hit the van in which four students from the Ayotzinapa rural normal school were traveling. One of the students, Yanqui Kothan Gómez Peralta, lost his life at the age of 23. The President has claimed that the students were traveling in a stolen car and opened fire on police, prompting officers to respond with force.
However, the father of one of the 43 missing students has disputed this version of events, referring to security camera footage showing the students taking cover behind their van as police fired at them. This contradictory information has provoked outrage and raised questions about the use of force by the police.
In response to mounting pressure, President López Obrador has called on the federal prosecutor’s office to take over the investigation and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. As the government works to address this latest tragedy, there are calls for real change to be set in motion.
The families of the victims, along with human rights organizations, are demanding a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident. It is also crucial that the government address the underlying issues of corruption, impunity and police brutality that continue to fuel violence and injustice in Mexico.
With information from France 24