30 October 1998

Alert

Journalist killed


Incident details

Claudio Cortés García

journalist(s)

killed


(RSF/IFEX) - RSF is expressing its deep concern further to the assassination
of Claudio Cortés García. According to RSF's information, on 23 October
1998, Claudio Cortés García, journalist with the Mexican edition of "Le
Monde Diplomatique" was found dead in the back seat of a vehicle in Mexico
City. He had disappeared on the night of 20 October. First signs in the
investigation point to the journalist having been strangled over ten hours
before the discovery of his body. The journalist, who was the son of a
former political prisoner, also worked for the "Reforma" and "El Financiero"
dailies and for "La Crísis" magazine.




**Ninguna version española será disponible**
Though it is not yet possible to confirm if Claudio Cortés García was killed
because of his professional activities or if there was another motive, RSF
remains very concerned by this latest assassination. Mexico has the
distinction, along with Colombia, of being one of the most dangerous
countries in which to exercice the journalism profession today. Four
journalists have been assassinated since May 1997. The most recent example
is that of Luis Mario García, justice columnist with the daily "La Tarde",
killed in Mexico City on 13 February 1998. The journalist had written many
articles on police corruption and had earlier escaped a 1997 assassination
attempt for which the Tijuana (Baja California city bordering the U.S.) drug
cartel, led by the Arellano Felix brothers, was deemed responsible (see IFEX
alert of 19 February 1998).

Recommended Action


Send appeals to the Attorney General:
  • asking him to do everything in his power to shed light on this
    assassination and to keep the international community informed of the
    investigation's progress




    Appeals To



    Mr. Jorge Madrazo
    Attorney General
    México D.F., México
    Fax: +525 625 7642 / 626 4478 / 626 4430







    Please copy appeals to the source if possible.





    Source:

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    • Updates to this story

    RSF writes to President Chirac on the eve of his trip to Mexico 11 November 1998 Journalist Fernando Martínez Ochoa killed; IAPA calls for investigations into recent murders in Mexico 4 November 1998

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