Families of disappeared persons
(Photo : Reuters)

Missing persons in Mexico are estimated to be more than 61,000 since 2006 and families of disappeared persons gathered together to search for their loved ones who are believed to be victims of the country's ongoing war against illegal drugs.

It is estimated that there are more than a dozen who went missing every day because of the government's drug war in Mexico. The number of missing persons continue to increase until today and this becomes one of the pressing issues in the country.

Moreover, it is very difficult for relatives to search for their loved ones because there were no traces of their bodies or remains. Just a month ago, more than 300 Mexican families gathered together in Poza Rica to participate in the National Brigade for Disappeared Persons. 

Mexico City's Red de Enlaces Nacionales or Network of National Links organized the national brigade and brought together the families of disappeared persons coming from the 21 Mexican states. The brigade was held from Feb.7 to 22 in the hope to search for their disappeared loved ones.

It was observed that the increase of the disappearances or missing persons began during the time of former President Felipe Calderon who declared a big war against illegal drugs in 2006. It was also found out that many disappearances were tied directly to Mexican Security Forces. In an article published on the website of Deutsche Welle, it was reported that some Police forces most especially in the state of Veracruz are working with the notorious Zetas drug cartel. 

However, the search for the disappearances of persons in Veracruz was very difficult. They erased any traces of a person by destroying it through an acid which has become a practice in a decade. This erases the DNA of the victims which is supposed to help identify the identity of the person through its remains or corpses. 

The brigade who searches for the missing body also found out that they systematically burned the bodies through an acid or an oven. Moreover, they found out an extermination camp in other regions known as the "kitchens" which is supposed to help the investigation but unfortunately, the chemicals used to exterminate the body have devoured many of traces like DNA.

Meanwhile, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador made a promise earlier this year that his administration will give aid to search for the missing persons. However, critics said that the government has failed to back up its promise with action. Many of the families of the disappeared persons were not able to attend this year's National Brigade because they did not receive partial or coverage for their travel. This was not the same in the previous brigade where the National Registry for Victims covered all travel expenses of all family members of the missing persons.

Even though there were still many who attended the National Brigade it is still lesser compared to the expected number of attendees. During their final day, the family members marched toward the Poza Rica bringing with them photos of their disappeared loved ones and they installed in the city's Civic Square Noe Amezcua a plaque of remembrance.

Likewise, one of the members of the coordinating team read out a sort of their findings. He said that they are calling for the implementation of a holistic search policy in the region.