We Are Not Ghosts”: The Indigenous Activists Disappearing in Mexico’s Drug War

We Are Not Ghosts”: The Indigenous Activists Disappearing in Mexico’s Drug War

Mexico’s cartels are silencing land defenders—why is the world ignoring this slow genocide?

In the mountains, forests, and deserts of Mexico, a quiet war is being waged—not just over drugs, but over land, water, and the very right to exist. Indigenous activists who dare to defend their ancestral territories against illegal mining, logging, and agribusiness are being murdered or disappearing at an alarming rate. The violence is ruthless, systematic, and often met with deafening silence.

While the global spotlight fixates on cartel shootouts and political theatrics, an invisible war on Indigenous land defenders is unfolding—and the victims are becoming “ghosts” in their own homeland.

The Silent War on Indigenous Communities

Mexico’s Indigenous peoples—especially the Yaqui, Nahua, and Rarámuri—have long stood on the frontlines of resistance. Their lands are rich in natural resources, which makes them targets not just for corporations but also for cartels seeking control of profitable territories.

But defending the land often comes with a death sentence:

• Over 200 Indigenous activists have disappeared in the last decade, many in regions where cartel violence intersects with government corruption, according to Amnesty International.
  

• In 2023 alone, 34 environmental defenders were killed in Mexico, placing it among the deadliest countries on Earth for activists (Global Witness).
  

• Many activists are criminalised—falsely charged with crimes or labelled “narco-terrorists”—to justify violent suppression.

“They say we are ghosts. No, we are alive—we resist so that we do not disappear,” said one Nahua elder in Guerrero, whose village has faced repeated attacks.

Cartels and Corporate Collusion

Far beyond narcotics, cartels are now deeply involved in illegal logging, mining, and agribusiness. These industries depend on territorial control—and Indigenous communities standing in the way are silenced with bullets or fear.

The Case of Samir Flores

In 2019, Samir Flores, a Nahua environmentalist, was assassinated after protesting a gas pipeline project linked to cartel-backed developers. His murder came just one day after a government forum on the controversial project. The Guardian called it “a chilling warning” to others who dare to speak up.

The Yaqui Struggle for Water

In Sonora, Yaqui leaders resisting the theft of their water by powerful interests have been kidnapped and killed. Water supplies are now controlled by cartels, who profit from scarcity while entire communities suffer. As Al Jazeera reports, the state’s response has ranged from indifference to complicity.

Why Is the World Silent?

Despite the gravity of this crisis, international coverage remains scarce. There are several reasons:

• The “War on Drugs” narrative dominates media cycles, framing Mexico's violence as cartel-on-cartel, rather than cartel-on-community.
  

• Multinational corporations have vested interests in disputed lands—meaning economic incentives often outweigh human rights concerns.
  

• Local officials frequently collaborate with organised crime, making justice nearly impossible.
  

“They are killing us, and the world yawns,” said a Rarámuri activist in Chihuahua. “They treat us like we do not exist.”

What Needs to Change?

The global community cannot afford to ignore this crisis. There are tangible actions we can take:

1. Apply International Pressure

Organizations like the UN and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights must demand investigations, sanctions, and protections for Indigenous defenders.

2. Support Grassroots Resistance

Donations to frontline organizations like Front Line Defenders and Indigenous Rights International help provide legal aid, security, and emergency funding.

3. Amplify Their Voices

Silence enables violence. Sharing reports from Amnesty International, Global Witness, and independent outlets helps bring these stories into public consciousness. Campaigns like #WeAreNotGhosts challenge the narrative of invisibility.

Conclusion: Naming the Ghosts

The Indigenous activists of Mexico are not ghosts. They are daughters and sons, teachers and farmers, elders and youth—fighting not only for land, but for life. Their resistance is not just local; it is a defense of the planet, of culture, of future generations.

The slow genocide they face thrives on our silence.

We must listen. We must speak. We must act.