- Title: Media protest in Mexico after another Sinaloa journalist receives death threats
- Date: 26th May 2017
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MAY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE ATTORNEY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS WITH CROSSES ON SECURITY FENCE PROTESTERS STICKING UP POSTERS WITH SPLATTERS ON RED PAINT ON SECURITY FENCE AROUND ATTORNEY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS PROTESTERS STICKING UP POSTER WITH SPLATTERS OF RED PAINT ON FENCE AS SECURITY GUARD WALKS UP TO THEM PROTESTERS TAPING POSTERS ONTO FENCE MEXICO COAT OF ARMS ON ATTORNEY GENERAL HEADQUARTERS SIGN OF THE CROSS IN RED TAPE ON FENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, ALFREDO ROJAS, SAYING: "But in this country it seems there is no justice, it seems there are no institutions which defend journalists, which tell the truth or which denounce an illegal act, not even for an activist who is facing organised crime, a human-trafficking organisation, an organisation that exploits labour." CULIACAN, SINALOA, MEXICO (MAY 25, 2017) (REUTERS) OFFICIALS GATHERED FOR A RECREATION OF THE CRIME SCENE WHERE JAVIER VALDEZ WAS SHOT MAN RECREATING THE MURDER SCENE GETTING OUT OF CAR AND PULLING GUN ON DRIVER IN ANOTHER CAR OFFICIALS DOCUMENTING RECREATION OFFICIALS AROUND VEHICLES IN RECREATION OF CRIME SCENE GENERAL VIEW OF CRIME SCENE RECREATION WITH EVIDENCE TAGS AND BODY BAG IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD INVESTIGATORS PUTTING DOWN MAKESHIFT BODYBAG DURING RECREATION OF CRIME SCENE SINALOA JOURNALIST WHO REPORTEDLY IS RECEIVING DEATH THREATS, JUAN MANUEL PARTIDA, DURING REUTERS INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SINALOA JOURNALIST WHO REPORTEDLY IS RECEIVING DEATH THREATS, JUAN MANUEL PARTIDA, SAYING: "I have colleagues who don't go out at night to work like before and when there is an event they get together and go with 2, 3, 4, (people) so they don't go alone. If they know it is an event in area that's potentially dangerous they wait for officials because we have no protection, we have no guards." CULIACAN, SINALOA, MEXICO (RECENT) (REUTERS) OFFICIAL PUTTING SHEET OF PLASTIC OVER THE BODY OF JAVIER VALDEZ AS IT LIES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ONLOOKERS NEAR CRIME SCENE GENERAL VIEW OF CRIME SCENE BEHIND YELLOW POLICE TAPE VALDEZ'S BODY LYING ON THE GROUND WITH EVIDENCE TAGS AROUND OFFICIALS GATHERED AT CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR LAYING OFFICIALS PUTTING VALDEZ' BODY IN A BODY BAG
- Embargoed: 9th June 2017 01:43
- Keywords: security murder cartel death threats drugs journalist Mexico Sinaloa corruption protest
- Location: MEXICO CITY, CULIACAN, SINALOA, MEXICO / NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA
- City: MEXICO CITY, CULIACAN, SINALOA, MEXICO / NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, USA
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA0016IC8JER
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A group of Mexican journalists gathered outside Attorney General Headquarters in Mexico City on Thursday (May 25) to denounce a spate of media killings in the country, calling for justice to be done amidst a backdrop of impunity and corruption in drug-ravaged states of the country.
Earlier this month, renowned Mexico journalist Javier Valdez was gunned down in the lawless state of Sinaloa, the fifth reporter killed in recent months in the country as authorities struggle to contain resurgent bloodshed among warring drug cartels.
Valdez was well-known for writing damning pieces linking authorities to drug cartels in the country.
Under pressure to stop the tide of killings, President Enrique Pena Nieto announced measures to strengthen investigations into attacks on reporters. But since Valdez's murder, other journalists have come forward claiming they have received death threats.
In the midst of a brutal drugs war, freedom of the press is often lauded in Mexico for providing breaking information on reports of collusion between officials and drug cartels. Valdez's investigative work saw him awarded the CPJ (Committee to Project Journalists) International Press Freedom Award in 2011 for his prolific coverage of drug trafficking and organised crime.
But despite the international acclaim of many of its journalists, Mexico ranks alongside Syria as one of the most dangerous places for media.
In all Mexico, over 120 journalists have been killed since 2000, according to the country's National Commission on Human Rights. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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