The Inter American Press Association condemns recent attacks against the Mexican daily newspaper El Siglo de Torreón, which have left one person dead and another injured.
(IAPA/IFEX) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemns recent attacks against the Mexican daily newspaper El Siglo de Torreón, which have left one person dead and another injured. The organisation also calls on the Mexican authorities to “react with determination and demonstrate that the various measures adopted to address violence go beyond mere political show.”
The offices of El Siglo de Torreón, located in the northern state of Coahuila, were attacked three times during the week of 25 February 2013. The most recent incident took place in broad daylight on 27 February, when a group of people attacked a police patrol that was stationed outside the office building. Mexican media reported that a local civilian was killed and another was injured.
On 25 and 26 February gunfire aimed at the paper’s offices was reported, though no-one was hurt. Other similar incidents took place in 2009 and 2011 and, at the beginning of February, five of the paper’s employees were held for several hours.
“We call for an investigation and clarification of what took place, as well as the identification of those responsible and an explanation for the violence,” said Claudio Paolillo, Chair of IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information.
(Please note this is an abridged translation.)
