Journalist need protection!
The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expressed his “deep concern” about the disappearance in Mexico of two employees of the newspaper “El Financiero”, and recent attacks on two newspapers in Coahuila and Veracruz.
The Rapporteur reported in a statement that the inspector of the newspaper “El Financiero”, Osvaldo García Iñiguez, and the driver, Jose de Jesus Ortiz Parra, disappeared on 14 November when they moved from Zacatecas to Jalisco (center-east) in a vehicle identified with company logos.
According to the last communication they had with the newspaper’s management, Garcia and Ortiz had reported that they were followed by two police vehicles.
After finding that they had reached their destination, “El Financiero” reported the disappearance of his two employees for what various police forces deployed Zacatecas intense operations and, according to the Commission, may stop some people who had information about it.
The Office also reported the attack against “El Siglo de Torreon” in Coahuila on 15 November, in which at least three people torched a car in front of the building daily and fired over 20 rounds, no injuries were reported.
Finally, reported another attack in which at least 10 masked men entered the early morning of November 6th in the newspaper “El Buen Tono” of Veracruz and set fire to the building, which escaped the 20 employees who were inside.
While acknowledging the efforts made by the authorities, the Special Rapporteur urges the Mexican government “to continue the activities aimed at the development of both people alive, to investigate exhaustively the latest statements made by them and not discard any hypothesis.”
Similarly, it was “urgent need to identify and prosecute those responsible for attacks against” The Century Tower “and” El Buen Tono “to prevent impunity and repetition of the facts.”
He also recalled the content of “Special Report on Freedom of Expression in Mexico 2010,” in which the body of the Commission reiterates the need to promote measures that effectively protect journalists and efficient mechanisms to address problems identified in research and administration of justice for these crimes.
In this regard, he urged the strengthening of the Special Prosecutor for Attention to Crimes Against Freedom of Expression and transfer to the federal courts of investigations of crimes against journalists in cases that require it. JGM
Strike of Lightning! 