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Another journalist was murdered in Mexico, in the deadliest year for press workers

Another journalist was killed in his car today in Mexico’s Guerrero state, authorities said, making this year the country’s deadliest for journalists.

Freddy “Freddy” Roman was shot dead in Chilpancingo, Guerrero state by gunmen on a motorcycle, according to local media and the prosecutor’s office, which announced an investigation.

A few hours before his murder, Roman had posted on Facebook a text entitled “War crime without charges against the leaders” which referred to the alleged complicity of local officials in the disappearance of 43 students in 2014.

Last week a government report on the incident called the disappearance of 43 youths in Guerrero state in September 2014 a “state crime”.

Citing a “protected witness,” Romano said in his article that at the time of the events there was a meeting between four officials, including Mexican Justice Minister Jesus Murillo Caram, who was remanded in custody after the report was published on charges of “enforced disappearance “, and the former governor of Guerrero.

The meeting was also reportedly attended by the then head of the federal police in Guerrero, Omar García Harfurch, now head of the Mexican police, as well as the former head of the criminal investigation service, Thomas Ceron, who has fled to Israel. Mexico has requested his extradition.

At least three more journalists have been killed this month in Mexico, and at least 18 so far this year, according to the human rights group Article 19. The country’s government says twelve journalists have been killed, while Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says just nine.

Most murders of journalists go unpunished and occur in areas where drug cartels operate.

According to Article 19, this year is already the deadliest year for journalists in Mexico. Violence against members of the press has skyrocketed since 2018 when Andrés Manuel López Obrador took over as president, the organization reports.

“The collusion between the authorities and organized crime is a serious threat to the safety of journalists,” RSF stressed. “President López Obrador has not yet made the necessary reforms to eliminate this violence and impunity,” they complained.

With 150 journalists murdered since 2000, Mexico is considered by RSF to be one of the most dangerous countries for press workers.

SOURCE: AMPE

Source: Capital

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