Jesuits condemn impunity to five months for the murder of two priests in Cerocahui

The Jesuit community in Mexico regretted that, after five months of the murder of two priests and a tour guide in the north of the country, the case remains unpunished and that the unsafety prevail in the country.

Five months after the murder of our brothers Javier (Campos) y Joaquin (Mora), With peter palmthe Jesuits of Mexico We regret that the case remains unpunished and that insecurity prevails in the Sierra Tarahumara”, they pointed out in a announcement.

On June 21, the Mexican president himself, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, confirmed that the day before the priests were murdered inside a church in Cerocahuiin the municipality of Uric, Chihuahua.

“It is an area with a significant presence of organized crime. It seems that there is already information about the possible perpetrators of these crimes,” he said at the time.

More than 150 days after the painful events, peace has not come to #Cerocahuicontrary to what the Secretary of State Public Security recently declared.
Insecurity prevails in the community and the fear that the case will be forgotten. https://t.co/YYlZxSxDmc

— Company of Jesus in Mexico (@Jesuitas_Mexico) November 22, 2022

The deaths of the religious were condemned by civil organizations and the Jesuit community in Mexicowhich highlighted that at least seven priests have been assassinated during the president’s administration Lopez Obradorwho days after the murder promised a “thorough” investigation and offered a reward for the alleged murderer.

However, the Jesuit community in Mexico pointed out that, “more than 150 days after the painful events, peace has not come to Cerocahuias recently stated by the Secretary of State Public Security”.

Crosses in memory of Jesuit priests and tourist guide murdered in Cerocahui. Photo by @Jesuitas_Mexico

In this sense, the Jesuits emphasized that, “in the community insecurity prevails, the fear that the situation will be forgotten and that the perpetrator will return to the area”.

In addition, they reproached that as long as there is no justice, it will not be possible to talk about peace and reconciliation, two banners of the Mexican president’s security strategy.

Mass for the body of the two murdered Jesuit priests, in the church of San Francisco Javier, in the community of Cerocahui, municipality of Urique, state of Chihuahua (Mexico). EFE/Luis Torres

They also took the opportunity to insist on their call to the different levels of government, in order to continue security in the mountain territory and the justice that the communities yearn for so much is achieved.

“We join the manifesto of the Diocese of Tarahumarawho has called for building ‘a country where truth and justice truly reign, leading us to true peace and love,’” the Jesuits concluded.

With information from EFE