Journalist Manifest their Indignation about Violence in Mexico

Los Angeles — Board members of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists issued a statement expressing outrage over the increased violence faced by journalists in Mexico.

On Feb. 11, the dead body of journalist Gregorio Jiménez was found in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. A group of armed men had kidnapped Jiménez from his home six days earlier. His murder caused great indignation among journalists and society, as a whole.

Jiménez’s case hardly is an exception in that country. According to Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission, there have been 88 journalist murdered and 16 others missing in that country since 2000.

The international group Article 19 points out that in 40 percent of those cases, the government — be it at the federal, state or municipal level — had been identified as the perpetrator. Article 19 also has stated that in Veracruz, during the three-and-a-half years of the administration of Gov. Javier Duarte, 10 journalists have been murdered, four have gone missing and 132 against media outlets or representatives in that state have been logged.

NAHJ-LA board members called on Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and those in charge of state and municipal government to issue a clear condemnation of the aggressions suffered by journalist in that country. The board members also are asking for immediate and effective protection to those working in that country’s media, especially working in areas where they are most vulnerable.

Board members are demanding that institutions in charge of upholding the justice in Mexico and international organization with jurisdictions over the matter, conduct a thorough investigation that uncovers full information on the murders of journalists and imposes the necessary punishment of those responsible.

They also called on President Barack Obama, who met with Peña Nieto Feb. 19 in Toluca, Mexico, to express his concern over this issue.