TheZetaYoke

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Widespread and Systematic Attack.
For certain acts to be considered crimes against humanity they have to be committed as part
of a widespread and systematic attack. Between 2008 and 2011 the Zetas were “responsible
for the deaths of hundreds of civilians in the pursuit of control of criminal activity in a
given territory, quantitatively exceeding the number of victims in potential situations under
consideration by the ICC.” clxiii It can be said that “the large-scale attack was massive,
frequent, carried out collectively with considerable seriousness and directed against a
multiplicity of civilian victims.” clxiv In accordance with the criteria of the Pre-Trial Court of
the International Criminal Court in the situation of Kenya, a “widespread attack may be the
cumulative effect of a series of inhumane acts or the singular effect of an inhuman act of
extraordinary magnitude.” clxv Likewise, “the Zetas’ sustained commission of acts of
violence for the purpose of controlling territory and extracting ‘rent’ on all criminal activity
carried out in the affected regions of Mexico” could be used as evidence to demonstrate
that the attack also had a systematic nature. clxvi
In the case of the Piedras Negras CERESO, the Zetas used public resources and facilities
for criminal purposes with the knowledge, consent and collaboration of agents and
institutions of the State as part of a criminal policy to attack the civilian population, to
strengthen the structure of the criminal group and to provide logistical capacity and
supplies destined for the criminal operation. Zeta enclaves functioned as cogs in a complex
criminal wheel. In the case of the disappearances committed in the north of Coahuila
beginning in March 2011, the Zetas committed a series of acts with the aim of securing
their revenge for the betrayal committed by one of their operatives, counting on the
collaboration of police municipal for this purpose. This allowed them to deprive the civilian
population who were linked to those who had betrayed them of their liberty. This
information allows us to conclude that there is sufficient evidence to believe that crimes
against humanity were committed inside and outside the CERESO facilities in Piedras
Negras, as well as in Allende and other regions of northern Coahuila.
The proposal of Undeniable Atrocities clxvii
For the Mexican State to demonstrate its political will and generate genuine hopes for an
end to this crisis of atrocity and impunity, it is necessary to seek the support of the
international community to face the situation. For that reason, it is both feasible and
indispensable that an internationalized investigative body be established, based in Mexico,