As the previous posts from my group suggest, violence against the press in Mexico is an ongoing problem. Yet, another incident has taken place last Friday that has left a crime photographer dead and a reporter injured.
According to an article by the Committee to Protect Journalists a gunman killed a photographer and injured a reporter in the southern city of Iguala, Guerrero state. The two reporters, Jean Paul Ibarra Ramírez, 33, from the newspaper El Correo and Yenny Yuliana Marchán Arroyo, 22, from the daily newspaper Diario 21, were each shot three times. The two reporters were on their way to cover a car accident around 10 p.m.
The police described the weapon used in the shooting to be a .45 caliber pistol, which is a firearm authorized for exclusive use by the Mexican army. Its use makes the shooting a federal crime and could bring in the federal government's special prosecutor for crimes against journalists.
Although many of the journalist related shootings in Mexico have some relationship to drugs and drug trafficking, neither of these reporters seemed to have a link. Ibarra was said to have stayed clear of stories about drug trafficking or police corruption to avoid danger. Marchán, a recent graduate writes a public opinion feature four days a week and covers the crime beat for the Diario 21.
CPJ is launching a thorough investigation today. One they hope will not be "twisted" by incompetent police and detectives. There has been additional skeptism regarding the Mexican government and President Felipe Calderón involving corruption.
Until the government wises up and takes a firm stance against the existing corruption, I don't see the safety of the Mexican journalists increasing.
-Ashley Mickelwaite
Mexico
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