Posted
February 3rd, 2010
by
English PEN protests the murder of newspaper editor and publisher Jorge Ochoa Martínez, who was shot dead in Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero state, on 29 January 2010. Ochoa is the second print journalist to be murdered in Mexico in 2010 and the 29th since 2004. English PEN calls on the federal and state authorities to investigate Ochoa’s killing, along with all other unsolved journalist murders, as a matter of the utmost urgency, and to bring the culprits to justice. We also continue to call for the implementation of effective journalist protection programmes.
Jorge Ochoa Martínez, editor and publisher of local newspapers, El Oportuno based in Chilpancingo and El Sol de la Costa based in Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero state, was shot dead on 29 January 2010. He was reportedly shot several times in the face after leaving a birthday party for a local politician at a restaurant in Ayutla de los Libres. The authorities are investigating but do not as yet have any leads in the case.
Ochoa (55) had not reported receiving any threats. According to a colleague, his newspapers did not tend to cover sensitive stories such as drug trafficking or corruption in any depth due to the poor security situation in Guerrero for journalists and in general. However, his family reportedly believe it possible that his murder was connected to his work. According to the police, there is to date no indication that his death was linked to organised crime.
Guerrero has become one of the most dangerous states for journalists as a result of a turf war between two drug cartels and the state and federal forces’ attempts to remain in control.
Background:
Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to work as a journalist. From January 2004 to January 2009, a total of 29 writers – 28 print journalists and one author – have been murdered. Six more print journalists have disappeared in the same period. Few if any of these crimes have been properly investigated or punished. English PEN believes that it is likely that these journalists were targeted in retaliation for their critical reporting, particularly on drug trafficking. While organised crime groups are responsible for many attacks, state agents, especially government officials and the police, are reportedly the main perpetrators of violence against journalists, and complicit in its continuance. For more information, please click here.
In a recent article on the dangers of being a journalist in Mexico, the award-winning investigative journalist and activist Lydia Cacho criticizes the Mexican mainstream media for aligning itself with groups close to the state which are responsible for the violence in Mexico and for failing to reflect the true reality of the country. As a result, says Cacho, the international community is largely unaware of what is going on in Mexico.
Cacho has called on foreign journalists to fill this gap by writing about the violence faced by their Mexican counterparts, “because talking about us protects our life and allows us to go on investigating and reporting” (to read the article in Spanish, click here). We were delighted that in response to Lydia’s request, English PEN member Terence Blacker wrote on the situation faced by Mexican journalists in The Independent on 27 January 2010. To read the article, ‘These reporters risking their lives deserve respect’, please click here.
*** English PEN continues to urge members to follow Cacho’s recommendation by publishing articles and blogs about the situation for print journalists in Mexico. Please do get in touch with the Campaigns Team if you are require any further information, and please do send us copies of anything you produce. ***
Useful links:
- Report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (1 February 2010) (English) (Spanish)
- Report by Reporters Without Borders (1 February 2010) (English) (Spanish)
Please send appeals:
- Protesting the murder of newspaper editor and publisher Jorge Ochoa Martínez, who was shot dead in Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero state, on 29 January 2010;
- Calling for a full, prompt and impartial investigation into Ochoa’s death and all other unsolved murders of journalists in Mexico;
- Calling on the government of President Felipe Calderón to fulfil promises to make crimes against journalists a federal offence, specifically by amending the Constitution so that federal authorities have the power to investigate, prosecute and punish such crimes;
- Calling on the federal authorities to set up protection programmes for journalist to ensure their safety.
Appeals to:
President:
Lic. Felipe De Jesús Calderón Hinojosa
Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos
Residencia Oficial de los Pinos Casa Miguel Alemán
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec, C.P. 11850, DISTRITO FEDERAL, México
Fax: ( 52 55) 5093 4901/ 5277 2376
Email: felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx
Salutation: Señor Presidente/ Dear Mr President
Attorney General:
Lic. Arturo Chávez Chávez
Procurador General de la República
Av. Paseo de Reforma No. 211-213, Piso 16
Col. Cuauhtémoc, Defegacion Cuauhtémoc
México D.F. C.P. 06500
Tel: 52 55 5346 0108
Fax: 52 55 53 46 0908 (if a voice answers, ask “tono de fax, por favor”)
E-mail: ofproc@pgr.gob.mx
Salutation: Señor Procurador General/Dear Attorney General
Special Prosecutor for Crimes against Journalists:
Dr Octavio Alberto Orellana Wiarco
Fiscal Especial para la Atención de Delitos Cometidos contra Periodistas (FEADP)
Email: feadp@pgr.gob.mx
Please also send copies of your appeals to the Mexican Embassy in London:
His Excellency Eduardo Tomas Medina Mora Icaza
16 St.George Street
London
W1S 1FD
United Kingdom
Fax: 020 7495 4035
Originally posted with the url: www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/bulletins/mexiconewspaperpublishershotdead/
