International Support Urged for Cancún Crematorium Investigation

The Truth, Memory and Justice of Quintana Roo, Searching Relatives “María Herrera”, and Armadillo Trackers of Mexico collectives have called for international support. They seek assistance for the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in Forced Disappearances in the proper removal of remains found near an illicit crematorium in Cancún, Quintana Roo. This crematorium was discovered just a week ago.

During a press conference at the Plaza of the Disappeared in Mexico City, the collectives highlighted several inconsistencies. These were found in the way the Prosecutor's Office staff collected evidence from both inside and outside the crematorium. They also called on the Department to provide updates on the ongoing investigation, which so far has been lacking in communication.

Romana Rivera Ramírez, president of the Truth Memory and Justice collective, pointed out flaws in the protocol for preserving and collecting the discovered remains. She said, "We request that the specialized prosecutor's office properly secure the site according to regulation protocols. After authorities conducted a search warrant on September 11th, we noticed that only the issues we had raised were addressed, but there were several more."

Rivera Ramírez also repeated the call for the release of information gathered so far. This includes the identity of the property's owner or owners, and details on how and where the equipment used to establish a crematorium was procured. When asked about the estimated number of missing persons in the region, she stated that the Truth, Memory and Justice collective alone has 116 active cases. However, she noted that the exact number remains unknown, as many cases lack formal complaints.