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Alert

Demonstrators assault photographer covering march in Ecatepec

(CEPET/IFEX) - Jesús Agustín Martínez García, a photographer for "El Universal Gráfico" newspaper, was assaulted by demonstrators from the citizens' group Movimiento El Barzón Popular during a protest in the municipality of Ecatepec, in Mexico state in central Mexico on 10 March 2008.

Martínez García told CEPET that the assault was unprovoked. The demonstrators beat and kicked him, and broke his camera. "When they saw me taking photographs, they threw themselves on top of me at the urging of their leader Enrique Cifuentes Chairez, and another leader, Guadalupe Bravo, who also stole my flash," said Martínez García.

He immediately filed a complaint with the authorities about the assault, the damage to his equipment and the theft of his flash, although he has received telephone calls from the leaders of Movimiento El Barzón Popular who have promised to help him recover his equipment.

Martínez García says the "El Universal Gráfico" editors have given him their full support, providing him with photographic equipment owned by the company so that he can continue working. The newspaper has also given him some financial support so that he can purchase a new camera and flash unit if the assailants do not themselves pay him for the damaged or stolen equipment.