The individuals who assaulted Ernesto Hernández Zetina, a reporter for the daily "Eyipantla Milenio", have issued a public apology for their actions.
(CEPET/IFEX) – The individuals who assaulted Ernesto Hernández Zetina, a reporter for the daily “Eyipantla Milenio”, have issued a public apology for their actions. The incident took place on 13 April 2009 when Hernández Zetina arrived in Catemaco, Veracruz state, on Mexico’s eastern coast. Around 9:30 a.m. (local time), the reporter began offering copies of the daily to the public using a loudspeaker to make an announcement about an article on the death of a man in an automobile accident. The dead man’s children intercepted the reporter in the street and began to beat him, eventually throwing him to the ground and kicking him.
After the assault, the reporter filed a complaint with the local authorities, who then opened a file on the case. On 19 May, after mediation carried out with the participation of the State Commission for the Defense of Journalists (Comisión Estatal para la Defensa de los Periodistas), an agreement was reached between Hernández Zetina and his assailants. The reporter’s attackers gave assurances that they would respect the work of journalists, after which the complaint against them was withdrawn.