Mexico
Mexico named a dangerous place for journalistsPosted Feb 8 2010
According to Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, 60 journalists have been killed since 2000, making Mexico one of the deadliest countries for reporting journalists.
Newspaper publisher Jorge Ochoa Martínez died Jan. 29 after being shot in Ayutla de los Libres in the city of Guerrero.
Guerrero is an especially dangerous part of Mexico, as two rival drug cartels are currently battling for dominance. However, Jaime Miranda, a colleague of Ochoa, told the Committee to Protect Journalists that newspapers in the area avoid investigating topics that would anger cartel leaders. He said Ochoa never mentioned receiving any threats.
Valentín Valdés Espinosa, was abducted and found dead on Jan. 8 with a note attached warning others: “This is going to happen to those who don’t understand. The message is for everyone.” Valdés worked at the newspaper Zócalo de Saltillo in Coahulla and covered local news including crime. After his murder, his former employer announced they would no longer report on drug violence to protect the lives of their reporters.
Before Valdés’ murder, two other journalists, Newspaper Publisher Alberto Velasquez and Crime Reporter Jose Luis Romero, were killed in December. All three are thought to be all drug-related crimes.
In response to all the violence, the International Journalism Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists is urging both U.S. and Mexican officials to stop the crimes against journalists covering the drug trade.