Genaro Vázquez Rojas and the Contradictions of Mexico's Dirty War
Genaro Vázquez Rojas, a Mexican teacher turned guerrilla, died under contested circumstances in 1972. Official reports claim a car accident, but doubts persist due to the Dirty War context. His wife's distrust and his enduring legacy highlight the struggle for truth and justice in Mexico.
Genaro Vázquez, born in 1931, was a teacher and prominent social fighter from the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico. Recognized for his staunch defense of the rights of peasants, he led large demonstrations and mobilizations against government repression in his region. Faced with the intensification of political persecution, he opted for the armed route and went underground. During the dirty war in Mexico, he founded one of the most significant armed movements of the time through the Guerrero Civic Association (ACG). His legacy lives on as a source of inspiration for generations of activists committed to social justice and human rights.
On the afternoon of February 2, 1972, Genaro Vázquez Rojas died in a car accident. According to the version of a report by the Federal Security Directorate (DFS), the agency in charge of surveillance and persecution of social movements during the Dirty War, the accident took place on the Mexico-Nogales highway, at kilometer 226.700, a stretch corresponding to Bajúmbaro, Michoacán. Vázquez Rojas was traveling in a 1965 Dodge Dart Hard Top, accompanied by José Bracho Campos, María Aguilar Martínez and Blanca Ledezma Gómez. Vázquez Rojas suffered a severe blow to the skull which caused his instantaneous death, while the other individuals were injured.
The report is accompanied by photographs documenting the autopsy performed on Vázquez, the remains of the vehicle in which they were traveling and the two women accompanying the deceased. In addition, objects found in the car are shown: weapons, ammunition, books and presumed explosives.
To recognize the identity of the corpse, the authorities used fingerprint comparison, since the only personal item he was wearing was a wedding ring with initials and the year 1958 engraved on it. Genaro's body was released to his wife Consuelo, after the autopsy.
Before receiving her husband's body, Consuelo Solis Morales asked the authorities to make sure that the corpse did not present any injuries caused by a firearm. This was due to the context marked by a wave of generalized violence and crimes against humanity committed by the State in which they found themselves. Given Genaro's declaration of war against the government and the army, people had a clear distrust in the authorities' version.
The newspaper El Nacional reported the news the following day with variations to what has already been described. For example, the newspaper mentioned that Genaro was found alive by Red Cross rescuers, and on the way to the Civil Hospital Doctor Miguel Silva he died. The different versions of the event caused doubts and the credibility of the DFS was questioned.
During the days following Genaro's death, the DFS closely monitored any manifestation related to the death of the guerrilla fighter. In their reports, they highlighted events organized in different states, even mentioning the names of those responsible. For example, at the Escuela Preparatoria Popular at 66 Liverpool Street, Prof. Enrique Treviño Tabares exhibited a banner with the face of Genaro Vázquez Rojas and the phrase: “HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE. V.” Another report noted that, at the Escuela Superior de Medicina, a black ribbon at the main entrance expressed mourning for the loss of Genaro Vázquez Rojas.
The difference in versions about the death of Genaro Vázquez Rojas reflects the lack of transparency and credibility in the institutions of that period. This event not only highlights the importance of questioning the official version, but also the need for thorough and transparent investigations to clarify the truth. Beyond the discrepancies in the accounts, what is undeniable is the legacy of Vázquez Rojas as a defender of human rights and his tireless struggle for social justice, which continues to inspire and resonate in the collective memory.
Full Citation: Archivo General de la Nación. “La muerte de Genaro Vázquez: entre la versión oficial y las discrepancias.” gob.mx, http://www.gob.mx/agn/es/articulos/la-muerte-de-genaro-vazquez-entre-la-version-oficial-y-las-discrepancias?idiom=es. Accessed 3 Apr. 2024.
