30 November 2006
MURDERS OF JOURNALISTS CONTINUE TO RISE
In Mexico, at least five journalists have been killed this year, prompting IFEX members to express serious concern for press freedom in the country. On 21 November 2006, Roberto Marcos García became the latest casualty, the third in November alone.
The 50-year old reporter was gunned down by armed assailants near the town of La Matoza in southern Mexico while traveling from Veracruz to Alvarado. He was a reporter for the Veracruz-based bi-monthly publication "Testimonio" and a local correspondent for the Mexico City weekly "Alarma".
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), García had reported for 13 years on violent crime and drug trafficking in Veracruz. His last report, published in "Testimonio" a week before his death, described the activities of a gang of thieves who stole goods coming into Veracruz port. Other reporters in Veracruz said García had previously received death threats on his cellular phone. García's daughter also told Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF) that he had been the recent target of threats.
García's murder was condemned by CPJ, RSF, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), the World Association of Newspapers (WAN), the Institute for Press and Society (Instituto Prensa y Sociedad, IPYS) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
IAPA has called on Mexico's new president, Felipe Calderón, to make the safety of journalists a priority in his administration. "We are aware of his commitment to press freedom as a guarantee of the democratic process and I have no doubt that he will do everything in his power to put an end to the violence and impunity," said IAPA in a statement.
Visit these links:
- IFEX: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/97/
- IAPA: http://www.sipiapa.com/
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/news/2006/americas/mexico22nov06na.html
- RSF: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=19867
- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?index=4400&Language=EN
- IPYS: http://www.ipys.org/alertas/atentado.php?id=961
- Ni Uno Más Campaign: http://www.cepet.org/libex/
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