PRESS RELEASE R16-10
PRESS RELEASE
Nº R16/10
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR EXPRESSES DEEP CONCERN
OVER LATEST MURDER OF A JOURNALIST IN MEXICO, THE THIRD IN 2010
Washington, D.C., February 3, 2010—The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expresses its deep concern over the murder of journalist Jorge Ochoa Martínez, the editor of the weekly newspapers El Sol de la Costa and El Oportuno, in the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Ochoa is the third reporter to be murdered in Mexico so far in 2010. The Office of the Special Rapporteur reiterates its call to the Mexican State to provide full support to the agencies in charge of investigating this crime, so that those who are responsible can be prosecuted and duly punished.
According to the information received, Guerrero Ochoa's body was found in his car, with a bullet wound to the head, near midnight on Friday, January 29, in the municipality of Ayutla de los Libres, Guerrero. Although the local authorities have stated that they do not know the motive for the crime, and it is not known whether the journalist had received threats, the Office of the Special Rapporteur calls on the authorities to determine whether the homicide was related to the exercise of his profession.
In 2009, at least ten journalists were killed in Mexico for reasons related to their work, and the state of Guerrero in particular—where three journalists were killed last year—has become one of the most dangerous places for practicing journalism, due to the actions of organized crime.
The Office of the Special Rapporteur again urges the Mexican State to conduct its existing investigations into crimes against journalists in an effective manner and to adopt, as soon as possible, essential measures to protect the free exercise of journalism. These include strengthening the Office of the Special Public Prosecutor, making crimes against journalist federal crimes, and implementing permanent protection measures to guarantee the life and physical integrity of journalists who are at risk.
The Office of the Special Rapporteur reminds that Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression of the IACHR states that "the murder, kidnapping, intimidation of and/or threats against social communicators, as well as the material destruction of communications media, violates the fundamental rights of individuals and strongly restricts freedom of expression. It is the duty of the state to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish their perpetrators and to ensure that victims receive due compensation."
