The family of young Oaxacan Carlos Tomás Aranda Burgoin, who has been missing in Canada since July 7, urged President Andrés Manuel López Obrador during the phone call between the two leaders to present the case “in person” to the Canadian Prime Minister. Discussions with Justin Trudeau are expected to take place this Sunday.
In a statement, the family denounced that Canadian authorities had not reported any leads on the whereabouts of the young man, who had been missing in the city for more than 42 days, despite repeated verbal and written inquiries from his father, Octavio Aranda, in the province of British Columbia.
“We make a respectful request to the President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to raise the case personally with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the phone call they will be having next Sunday, August 20, and to discuss it with him,” he tells the family in the statement.
“The sole purpose of this request is that Secretary Trudeau, in his capacity as Canada’s first President, be informed and, where possible, intervene directly or direct his subordinates to ensure that investigations are conducted effectively, thoroughly, and timely.” Keep in mind the legal framework of your country and fully respect human rights.
Josué Aranda, Carlos’ brother, told Grupo Reforma that Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena informed him and his father about the case at a meeting on August 7 where they were supposed to follow up on the case.
State Department officials did not respond to a request from Grupo Reforma to confirm the date of the call.
Carlos Aranda immigrated to Canada from Oaxaca on June 9 with the intention of gaining more knowledge in his tourism education, his father said.
He worked alongside other Mexican colleagues on a farm in Osoyoos, but after an argument with them on the night of Thursday, July 6, the young man ran away from the site and was never seen again, according to Mr. Octavio de Partone, this companion.
CCTV footage shown to the father by Canadian police shows Carlos at the reception desk of a hotel, where he went to ask for help, visibly frightened, and after an officer helped him, the young man ran again, says it to what the police authority informed Mr. Octavio.
The father traveled to Canada to personally search for his son, days after learning of his son’s disappearance, as local authorities showed no response.
His stay was financed from his own resources and with the help of family and friends who organized raffles and donations, but he had to return to the country because he ran out of money, which is why the family also asked the authorities of both countries to let him support these expenses to return to Canada to further the investigation.
On August 8, in his morning conference, the President pledged that he would attempt to discuss the Aranda case with Trudeau in a scheduled phone call between them.
He confirmed that the Prime Minister of Canada intended to speak to him to thank him for supporting Mexico in the wildfires ravaging Canada.
