Ceci Flores Challenges Mexican President to Join Search for Missing

Ceci Flores, president of the collective Las Madres Buscadoras de Sonora, has proposed to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) and Mexico City Government Head Martí Batres to participate in a search day after a clandestine crematorium was determined to be fake. The proposal comes on the heels of President AMLO accusing Flores of "trafficking with human pain" following the discovery of the supposed crematorium in Mexico City, which was later deemed false.

Why this matters: The controversy surrounding the alleged clandestine crematorium highlights the deep-seated issues of trust and accountability between the government and civil society in Mexico, particularly in the context of the country's ongoing crisis of missing persons. The outcome of this incident could have significant implications for the government's response to this crisis and its relationship with advocacy groups like Las Madres Buscadoras de Sonora.

In a video published on X, Flores responded to the President's accusations, stating, "The State does not understand the magnitude of the problem and takes the easy way out of disqualification." She then extended an invitation to the President and Government Head: "Go on a search day, feel the pain, the desperation of the mothers... If at the end of the day, you still think it's a setup or that it's for electoral reasons, then I won't raise my voice again."

The Government's investigation, led by the Fiscalía, concluded that the discovery of the crematorium was "absolutely false" and attributed the incident to "a political movement" corresponding to "the electoral season." However, Flores confirmed to CNN that no independent organization has been involved in corroborating the Government's conclusions.

The alleged clandestine crematorium was initially discovered on May 1, 2024, when Flores and her team found bones around burial pits and ID cards in Tlahuac, on the edge of Mexico City. Flores, who leads a group of "searching mothers" from northern Mexico, initially claimed they had found a clandestine crematorium, raising concerns about the fate of missing individuals. However, prosecutors later determined that the remains found were not human.

Despite the setback, Flores remains undeterred in her mission to uncover the truth about missing persons in Mexico. By proposing a search day with President AMLO, she aims to shed light on the pain and desperation experienced by the families of the disappeared. The invitation stands as a challenge to the Government to confront the reality on the ground and understand the true magnitude of the crisis.

Key Takeaways

• Ceci Flores, president of Las Madres Buscadoras de Sonora, proposes a search day with Mexican President AMLO.
• AMLO accused Flores of "trafficking with human pain" after a supposed clandestine crematorium was deemed false.
• The incident highlights trust and accountability issues between the government and civil society in Mexico.
• Flores' group found bones and ID cards in Tlahuac, but prosecutors determined the remains were not human.
• Flores aims to shed light on the pain of families of the disappeared and challenge the government to confront the crisis.