In Brad Will killing, report fuels questions, controversy
On July 26, the following headline appeared in Mexico’s daily Milenio newspaper: “Canada: Will assassinated at point-blank range.” Soon, similar headlines followed. The stories focused on a recent report by three Canadian investigators that sustains conclusions made by the Mexican authorities in the case of Bradley Roland Will, left, a U.S. video-journalist and activist killed…
Pro-government militants attack Venezuela’s Globovisión
New York, August 3, 2009–A group of more than 30 armed pro-government militants riding motorcycles stormed the premises of private broadcaster Globovisión today and set off tear gas, local press reports said. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the attack and called on authorities to provide Globovisión and its staff members the necessary protection to…
Even after self-censoring, a reporter is murdered in Mexico
The large family of Mexican radio anchorman Juan Martínez Gil gathered around his coffin in the intense tropical heat of Acapulco’s main cemetery on Thursday. His brother Javier, who identified his badly beaten body on Tuesday, was the least consolable. He leaned across the coffin, his tears flowing down his face onto the dark metal. “Juanito, you…
Bill punishing ‘media crimes’ in Venezuela a serious setback
New York, July 30, 2009–A bill by Venezuela’s attorney general that punishes “press crimes” with prison terms is an unprecedented step in the crusade by President Hugo Chávez Frías’ administration to curtail media freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Reporter found dead near Acapulco
New York, July 29, 2009–Mexican authorities found the brutally beaten body of a journalist partially buried near the southwestern resort city of Acapulco Tuesday afternoon, according to local news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists called today on Mexican authorities to thoroughly investigate the killing, and to put an end to the ongoing violence against…
Bolivian cameraman brutally attacked in La Paz
New York, July 28, 2009–Following a vicious attack on a cameraman for the La Paz-based television network Gigavisión outside the station’s offices early Saturday morning, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on Bolivian authorities today to thoroughly investigate and bring those responsible to justice.
Mexican man sentenced to 16 years for journalist’s murder
On June 3, 2009, Mexican Judge José Alberto Ciprés Sánchez sentenced Hiram Oliveros Ortiz to 16 years in prison for the 2004 murder of journalist Roberto Javier Mora García, editorial director of the Nuevo Laredo-based daily El Mañana, the paper reported. The following day, Oliveros’ attorney appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of the…