### Families of Missing Persons: Seeking Truth and Justice
In the cities of La Paz and San José del Cabo, the streets were adorned with white in commemoration of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. This event marked a significant mobilization by families demanding justice and transparency from the government.
Portraits of missing persons from Baja California Sur blanketed the landscape, capturing the enduring hope of finding them, but also highlighting the frustration with pervasive impunity. Families express that this yearly protest has become a somber tradition, as investigation files remain empty, and significant progress is often driven by the efforts of search collectives rather than official actions.
**Staggering Statistics and Collective Efforts:**
Between 2021 and 2024, these families, organized in associations, discovered more than 50 concealed graves, revealing over 60 victims in the municipalities of La Paz, Comondú, and Los Cabos. Notably, in May of this year, they found 18 bodies in 14 graves in the “El Cajoncito” ravine in La Paz. Additionally, six skeletons were confirmed found in Cabo San Lucas in July.
**Official Records and Call for Accountability:**
The National Registry of Missing and Unlocated Persons recorded 584 disappearances in the region from 2018 to 2024. However, according to the collectives, about a thousand search warrants remain active. Representatives of the group “Búsqueda x La Paz” demanded the dismissal of Jorge Omar Arvizu Búrquez, the head of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Investigation and Prosecution of Crimes of Enforced Disappearance and Related Crimes. They insist on truth and justice, claiming that there have been no substantial advances due to the lack of government action.
**Voices of the Families:**
Iris Manríquez, a leader of the collective, stressed that their plea is directed at the state governor, Víctor Castro Cosío, asking for a change in the leadership to achieve meaningful progress. She accuses the authorities of inactivity and explains that many successful searches are results of their own investigative efforts, not those of the government.
Manríquez highlighted numerous human rights violations, including re-victimization and delays in the critical initial 72 hours of disappearance. She revealed that 300 missing persons have been inexplicably removed from the national registry, without verification of their whereabouts.
Despite agreeing to discussions with the authorities, families have yet to receive clarity on the status of these individuals.
**Government Response:**
Requests for interviews with the prosecutor went unanswered. Governor Castro critiqued journalists for politicizing the issue but assured that his administration is committed to collaborating with search collectives to address this grave problem. He noted that despite challenges, efforts have been made to find missing persons alongside these collectives.
The governor emphasized the dedication of his government to supporting families and acknowledged the complexity of the issue.
### Additional Coverage: Recent Developments on Missing Persons in Baja California Sur
**Search Efforts Continue:**
Recent reports indicate that search groups in Baja California Sur continue to uncover clandestine graves and identify victims. Efforts for better coordination with authorities are ongoing to expedite these searches and bring closure to affected families.
**Government Accountability:**
Amid protests, families and advocacy groups demand greater transparency and accountability from local governments. Public pressure is mounting for reforms in how investigations are conducted and reported.
**National Initiatives:**
There are ongoing discussions at the national level to improve the tracking and resolution of missing persons’ cases. Proposals include enhanced funding for search efforts, better inter-agency collaboration, and updated regulations to ensure immediate and comprehensive response protocols.
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