Protest over student massacre overshadows Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto's White House visit
Source: Australian Broadcasting Company
Protesters angered by Mexico's handling of a student massacre turned out in sub-zero temperatures to denounce the country's president Enrique Pena Nieto during his visit to the White House.
"Asesino [murderer]," they yelled. "Uno, dos, tres..." they counted up to 43 - the number of students who were abducted by Mexican police and then handed over to a drug gang to be either shot or burned to death on the alleged orders of a local mayor in Guerrero state. The mayor has been charged with organised crime, kidnapping and murder. His wife has also been charged.
The students, now known as "Los 43", disappeared more than three months ago. They still haunt Mr Pena Nieto as yet another graphic example of his nation's failure to combat the corruption wrought by the drug wars. This visit to Washington and the White House was supposed to be a fresh start for Mr Pena Nieto to talk about business.
US president Barack Obama needs Mexico's help to stop illegal immigration from Central America, help deal with several million illegal migrants already in the US, improve trade opportunities and pressure Cuba on human rights. Some feared he would not raise the issue of the massacre of the students at all with his Mexican counterpart.
Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-07/protesters-greet-mexican-president-at-white-house/6003822
