Parents of the 43 Ayotzinapa students applaud Karam’s arrest

() — The mothers and fathers of the 43 Ayotzinapa students who disappeared nearly eight years ago welcomed the findings of a recent government report that determined the disappearances were a “state crime.”

“For us it is relevant and has positive elements that will help to know the truth and obtain justice, the families said in a statement published on Friday.

The fate of the students is a mystery that remains unsolved despite years of scrutiny and international interest.

The students had been visiting the southwestern city of Iguala from a teachers’ college in Ayotzinapa when their buses were intercepted by local police and federal military forces in September 2014.

Exactly what happened after that, and why, is unknown. However, survivors of the original group of 100 students said that their buses had been stopped and attacked by police and armed soldiers. Bullet-riddled buses were later found on the city streets, with shattered glass and blood.

Subsequently, 43 students disappeared.

A government report last week called the incident a “state crime,” based on thousands of documents, text messages, phone records, testimonials and other forms of evidence.

Jesús Murillo Karam, former attorney general of Mexico, was arrested a day after the report came to light and was accused by the prosecution of being suspected of “the crimes of forced disappearance, torture and obstruction of justice.”

Karam had headed the state investigation into the students’ disappearances, but then-President Enrique Peña Nieto criticized him for his lack of transparency in handling the matter.

The parents of the 43 welcomed their arrest.

“Today the Judge who processes the case agrees with us. Murillo Karam conducted a murky, irregular investigation, plagued with torture, manipulation and planting of evidence, thus constructing a lie that prevented us from knowing the whereabouts of our children,” says the joint statement from the parents.

“We will continue with the demand that the 43 be presented alive. We cannot give up the fight until we have full proof that indicates their whereabouts. It would be painful for our families to know of their fate, especially if it is lifeless, but if they give us objective, scientific and indubitable proof, we will go home crying and live our mourning. To date, we do not have this evidence. That is why our demands and struggle continue.”