NAHJ Joins Calls for the Immediate Protection of Journalists in Mexico Hugo Balta - VOXXI
go to original February 16, 2014

Local journalists stage a protest on the day that fellow journalist Gregorio Jimenez was buried after his body was discovered alongside the corpse of a union leader whose kidnapping was the topic of two of Jimenez’s stories. (AP/Felix Marquez)

Enough is enough. How much longer will Mexico’s national and local government leaders stand idly by as the number of murdered journalists continues to grow?

The kidnapping and killing of Gregorio Jimenez, who worked for the newspapers Notisur and El Liberal is the latest example of the unforgiveable state of violence and fear endured by journalists in Mexico.

Among the stories Jimenez reported were crimes including his most recent about the wave of kidnappings in his Gulf Coast community of Veracruz. His execution adds to the rising number of slain and missing journalists in that Mexican state – believed to be about a dozen since 2010.

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) joins other journalism associations, journalists and media companies investigating and protesting the death of Jimenez. Too many journalists like Jimenez are dying for bringing to light Mexico’s organized crime and the corrupt law officials who protect them.

Government officials need to step up and investigate the kidnapping and death of Jimenez.

Mexico is the second most dangerous country for journalists in the Western hemisphere. According to some estimates, 10 journalists have been killed, four have disappeared and more than 130 have been attacked in the past three years in Veracruz.

Mexico’s history, people, culture, economy and politics are interdependent with the United States.

Crimes against journalists exposing truths in the public’s best interest compromises the freedom of expression. For U.S. and Mexican leaders not to act now weakens the fundamental bricks of their democratic foundation.

Hugo Balta is President of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists  (NAHJ)

See the original at VOXXI

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