- Title: Mexico president vows more to stop reporter murders
- Date: 17th May 2017
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MAY 17, 2017) (REUTERS) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, ENRIQUE PENA NIETO, WALKING INTO ROOM / GREETING CABINET MEMBERS ATTENDEES LOOKING ON PENA NIETO AT PODIUM, NEXT TO CABINET MEMBERS AND POLITICIANS INCLUDING INTERIOR MINISTER, MIGUEL ANGEL OSORIO CHONG, AND MEXICO CITY MAYOR, MIGUEL ANGEL MANCERA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, ENRIQUE PENA NIETO, SAYING: "It's the state of Mexico's obligation, as a whole, to grant guarantees to journalists so they can carry out their profession. Especially, given the threat posed today by organised crime." OFFICIALS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN PRESIDENT, ENRIQUE PENA NIETO, SAYING: "The homicide of journalists and human rights defenders is often a symptom of a greater phenomenon of impunity to which an end must be stressed from the coordinated action of the three powers and government orders." ATTENDEES APPLAUDING PENA NIETO AND MANCERA SHAKING HANDS PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (CNDH), LUIS RAUL GONZALEZ PEREZ, SAYING: "The main issue is for us to fight impunity. It's great that mechanisms of prevention will be strengthened. It's important that they be replicated in the states. It's good, there will be articulation, between the federation and the states. But the main issue is to end impunity by having those responsible in jail." ATTENDEES LEAVING AFTER EVENT CULIACAN, SINALOA, MEXICO (MAY 15, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BODY OF JAVIER VALDEZ LYING IN STREET JOURNALISTS AND ONLOOKERS TAKING PICTURES OF CRIME SCENE MORE OF CRIME SCENE, NUMBER CONES BEING PLACED ON STREET BY FORENSICS MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MAY 16, 2017) (REUTERS) JOURNALISTS PROTESTING OUTSIDE INTERIOR MINISTRY PHOTOS OF OTHER MURDERED JOURNALISTS ON GROUND, NEXT TO LIT CANDLES BANNER BEING HELD UP THAT READS (Spanish): "NO MORE VIOLENCE AGAINST JOURNALISTS" JOURNALISTS HOLDING LIT CANDLES DURING VIGIL PROTEST
- Embargoed: 31st May 2017 21:45
- Keywords: murder protect journalists crimes prosecutor's office investigation strengthen Pena Nieto
- Location: MEXICO CITY / CULIACAN, SINALOA, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY / CULIACAN, SINALOA, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016H899HF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto on Wednesday (May 17) announced measures to strengthen investigations into attacks on reporters and offer them greater protection from being murdered by violent drug gangs.
Mexico is one of the deadliest countries in the world to be a journalist, and with five journalists killed since March, Pena Nieto faces mounting pressure to do more to protect the press corps reporting on the decade-long drug war.
On Monday (May 15), respected drug war chronicler Javier Valdez was killed when assailants opened fire on his car in the Sinaloa state capital, Culiacan.
In reaction to the spate of the attacks, which sparked protests from journalists across the country, Pena Nieto said more and better trained staff would be hired for a widely criticised office that investigates crimes against journalists.
Pena Nieto added he would bolster a mechanism for providing protection for journalists and activists who face threats.
The president also asked the governors of Mexico's 32 states to take a greater role alongside the federal government in protecting journalists. The majority of journalists are murdered in states like Veracruz and Tamaulipas, which have become overrun with cartel henchmen, often in cahoots with corrupt officials.
Journalists gathered outside Mexico's Interior Ministry on Tuesday (May 16) evening to protest the killings.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, seven news workers have been killed in Mexico in 2017, and more than 100 since 2000. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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