IACHR experts will not have access to Iguala's military: Betanzos

The Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) will not have access to the 27th. Battalion of Iguala, Guerrero, because the Constitution states that the public prosecutor is the only one entitled to do so, said Eber Betanzos Torres, Deputy Human Rights Ombudsman of the General Attorney's Office (PGR), who is now in charge of the investigation on the disappearance of the 43 teachers in training of Ayotzinapa.

In an interview with EL UNIVERSAL, Betanzos said that the mandate of the experts, which lasted for six months, will end in April next year without the option of a further extension. However, he explained that during this time they will have all the elements to perform their duty as technical assistants to work on new lines of investigation.

Betanzos explained that satellite images taken by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency on September 26 and 27 in Cocula, Guerrero were included in the investigation. Mexican authorities have said that the students were allegedly burned on Cocula's municipal dump on those dates.

He added that the government is working with the Executive Committee for Victims to pay reparations to the families of the victims and that the PGR is more than willing to assist in whatever is needed.