1996-10-17 Local Press
Article Index
Summary of Local Press Clippings from Mexico
October 17, 1996, Credit Lyonnais Securities (USA) Inc.
DEMOCRACY
Remains of a Cadaver Found on Salinas Ranch
On Wednesday, October 9, police from the Attorney General's office (PGR) dug up the remains of a cadaver on a ranch belonging to Raul Salinas in Mexico City. The remains are believed to be those of Manuel Munoz Rocha, the PRI Congressional Representative who has been missing since days after the assassination of former FRI leader Francisco Ruiz Massieu in September 1994.
Munoz Rocha is suspected of masterminding the murder along with Raul Salinas. Authorities report that they were led to the cadaver by an anonymous note.It will be a few weeks before specialists are able to determine if the remains are actually those of Munoz Rocha. However, what is known so far is that it was a male between the ages of 40 and 50, about 5 ft 6-- which fits his description. The cause of death appeared to be a strong blow to the head.
Raul Salinas issued a statement in which he accused officials of the PGR of planting the corpse in order to frame him for the murder. Indeed, there are widespread doubts as to the legitimacy of the "finding". The cranium had been surgically cut, providing evidence that the body had already been through an autopsy. The PGR vigorously denied Raul's claims, saying that "the era in which the PGR plants cadavers has passed." (La Jornada, 10-14 October).