Posted by DD Republished from Knight Center UT
Journalist Manuel Torres González, 45, was shot in the head from behind on May 14 after leaving state offices in the city of Poza Rica in northern Veracruz, as reported by Milenio, citing the Attorney General of Veracruz.
(DD: It was in this city where governor Javier Duarte, on two occasions, told journalists to “behave well,” because “there are a lot of rotten apples” and “we are going to shake the tree so hard that many will fall,” a threatening allegation that reporters were complicit with organized crime, yet to date the administration has not pursued legal action against a single journalist for “behaving poorly.”
Torres was a collaborator with the city council of Poza Rica and a reporter and editor-in-chief of news site Noticias MT.
Animal Político pointed out that the statement from the Attorney General of Veracruz, in which it said the Prosecutor of the Northern Region of Poza Rica was investigating the case, did not identify Torres as a communicator or journalist. (DD: he was identified as an employ of city hall, even though there are photos of Torres being embraced by the Governor and the city director of communications)
In a May 16 article about Torres’ funeral, Noreste published the following: “Although the Attorney General of the State ignored Torres’ profession, colleagues confirmed his journalistic activity, exercised for more than a decade. His work was recognized by everyone, including officials and former officials who were present [at his funeral].” He was married with two children.
Noreste said Torres had also worked as a reporter and correspondent for Noreste, TV Azteca, Tukulama, Agencia Imagen del Golfo, Diario de Poza Rica and El Mundo de Poza Rica, while Milenio mentioned outlets including MN Nuestras Noticias, Radio Digital and Radio Ver.
A kind of final sendoff for their former colleague, the newspaper wrote: “Manuel Torres González was buried in the Holy Trinity cemetery, but his memory will remain in the hearts of his loved ones and his journalistic legacy in the recognition of his colleagues, who demand that the wave of violence cease and the case is solved.”
Many friends and colleagues posted notes of remembrance on Torres’ Facebook Wall, referring to him as a “prominent reporter,” “great friend” and “teacher.”
The State Commission for Attention and Protection to Journalists (CEAPP for its initials in Spanish) has condemned his murder. Martín de Jesús García, an organization commissioner, said there hadn’t been a history or application for protection from Torres, according to Noreste.
On Twitter, Article 19 Mexico urged that the Attorney General of Veracruz “exhaust, as the main line of research, the journalistic work in the murder of Manuel Torres González.”
The freedom of expression organization recently reported that from January to March 2016, there were 69 attacks against the press in the country with a majority (17) having occurred in Veracruz. It noted that this is part of a continuing pattern for the state.
Numerous outlets reported that Torres is either the 16th or 18th journalist to be killed while Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte has been in office. Duarte and his administration have been criticized for their treatment of journalists and perceived failures to protect them.
The governor signed the “State of Veracruz System of Early Warning” on Nov. 2, 2015 to defend journalists in the state, but critics claimed it was for publicity.
In its 2015 annual report on violation against the press in Mexico, Article 19 said “Veracruz is the geographic area on the continent that is most dangerous for journalists.”
Following the 2015 death of journalist in Veracruz, Carlos Lauría, senior program coordinator for the Americas for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said, “authorities have long sought to downplay the risks to journalists in Veracruz.”
Torres is the sixth journalist murdered this year in Mexico. The latest murder was that of Francisco Pacheco Beltrán on April 25 in Guerrero.
(DD: It was in this city where governor Javier Duarte, on two occasions, told journalists to “behave well,” because “there are a lot of rotten apples” and “we are going to shake the tree so hard that many will fall,” a threatening allegation that reporters were complicit with organized crime, yet to date the administration has not pursued legal action against a single journalist for “behaving poorly.”
Torres was a collaborator with the city council of Poza Rica and a reporter and editor-in-chief of news site Noticias MT.
Animal Político pointed out that the statement from the Attorney General of Veracruz, in which it said the Prosecutor of the Northern Region of Poza Rica was investigating the case, did not identify Torres as a communicator or journalist. (DD: he was identified as an employ of city hall, even though there are photos of Torres being embraced by the Governor and the city director of communications)
In a May 16 article about Torres’ funeral, Noreste published the following: “Although the Attorney General of the State ignored Torres’ profession, colleagues confirmed his journalistic activity, exercised for more than a decade. His work was recognized by everyone, including officials and former officials who were present [at his funeral].” He was married with two children.
Noreste said Torres had also worked as a reporter and correspondent for Noreste, TV Azteca, Tukulama, Agencia Imagen del Golfo, Diario de Poza Rica and El Mundo de Poza Rica, while Milenio mentioned outlets including MN Nuestras Noticias, Radio Digital and Radio Ver.
A kind of final sendoff for their former colleague, the newspaper wrote: “Manuel Torres González was buried in the Holy Trinity cemetery, but his memory will remain in the hearts of his loved ones and his journalistic legacy in the recognition of his colleagues, who demand that the wave of violence cease and the case is solved.”
Many friends and colleagues posted notes of remembrance on Torres’ Facebook Wall, referring to him as a “prominent reporter,” “great friend” and “teacher.”
The State Commission for Attention and Protection to Journalists (CEAPP for its initials in Spanish) has condemned his murder. Martín de Jesús García, an organization commissioner, said there hadn’t been a history or application for protection from Torres, according to Noreste.
On Twitter, Article 19 Mexico urged that the Attorney General of Veracruz “exhaust, as the main line of research, the journalistic work in the murder of Manuel Torres González.”
The freedom of expression organization recently reported that from January to March 2016, there were 69 attacks against the press in the country with a majority (17) having occurred in Veracruz. It noted that this is part of a continuing pattern for the state.
Numerous outlets reported that Torres is either the 16th or 18th journalist to be killed while Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte has been in office. Duarte and his administration have been criticized for their treatment of journalists and perceived failures to protect them.
The governor signed the “State of Veracruz System of Early Warning” on Nov. 2, 2015 to defend journalists in the state, but critics claimed it was for publicity.
In its 2015 annual report on violation against the press in Mexico, Article 19 said “Veracruz is the geographic area on the continent that is most dangerous for journalists.”
Following the 2015 death of journalist in Veracruz, Carlos Lauría, senior program coordinator for the Americas for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said, “authorities have long sought to downplay the risks to journalists in Veracruz.”
Torres is the sixth journalist murdered this year in Mexico. The latest murder was that of Francisco Pacheco Beltrán on April 25 in Guerrero.
Is really sad, they always kill ,journalist, kids, women....my brother is on the mexican marina and he said criminals are cowards, when they see them they run...mexico needs better laws or a real government...
ReplyDeleteMexico has a good system, but needs to stop handing immunity to elected officials, and needs many fewer police, better vetted, better protected and better paid.
DeleteI like most of the soldiers I meet, they all believe in something. They're compensated with priceless intangibles.
sh**
ReplyDeletePlease write about the chemist that was decapitated in Texas. I feel it safe to assume it was the cartel.
ReplyDeleteDuarte es el ASESINO y RATERO
ReplyDeleteand I thought teachers in US classrooms deserve battle pay!
ReplyDelete...the entire government of Veracruz is corrupt to the core, from the top down... the few that are honest live in fear and do not speak out for fear of at4ribution from those on the take. The national government does nothing, turning the other way, a blind eye and abrogating their responsibility to guarantee secure honest governance. The state is a total cesspool of municipal, state and law enforcement corruption. Nothing will change until the National government assumes their responsibility and declares a "state of emergency" assuming total control over governance and law enforce... the State of Veracruz is now nearing total anarchy... criminals now run the State.
ReplyDeleteDD this is off topic. But there are articles saying another judged approved extradition for Chapo. Did he appeal that quickly?
ReplyDelete@5:55. It is my understanding that the judicial council issued a ruling that all the requirements of extradition have been met and it is legal to extradite him. That leaves it in the hands of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue the extradition order.
DeleteBut Chapo can file an amparo (injunction) to stop the extradition order from taking effect. That would have to be a hearing on that and that could take awhile (stall) and then the outcome of the hearing on the amparo can be appealed. He's not going any farther north any time soon unless he agrees to it. Mexican law is complicated and I may have left out a step or 2, but I think that is the essence of what is happening.
They just want to make la chapa FART A FEW MORE million pesos pa' las tortazzz y las chescas some more attorneys fees, and judges mordidas, mophakkas know the US will try to squeeze millions and millions of dollarzz from la chapa, why shouldn't the mexican crooks too???
Deletei see.
DeleteZ state....
ReplyDelete