CPJ urges reopening of case of 1988 murder of journalist Hector Felix Miranda, as colleague awarded CPJ International Press Freedom Award
The CPJ announced on 7 October 1996 that it will be presenting an International Press Freedom Award to J. Jesus Blancornelas in New York on 26 November in recognition of his more than two decades of dedicated perseverance in the defense of press freedom in Mexico. Blancornelas’ distinguished career is marked by his refusal to […]
Bill introduced in Parliament could limit the stay in Mexico of foreign correspondents
On 30 September 1996, the Mexican government introduced a bill in Parliament that would limit to five years the stay of foreign correspondents in the country. The aim of the bill is to reform the current General Law on Population. According to the bill, the correspondents would be given a one year visa, “renewable up […]
“Contrapunto” director abducted
Razhy Gonzalez Rodriguez, director of the Oaxaca-based regional weekly magazine “Contrapunto”, was abducted in Oaxaca City on the night of 17 September 1996. At 23:00 hours on 17 September, Gonzalez was walking along Bustamante Street in the centre of Oaxaca towards the office of “Contrapunto” with a friend, Pilar Monterubio, when they were accosted by […]
Concern over circumstances of arrest of “El Universal” owner
In a 17 September 1996 letter to Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo, CPJ expressed concern over the circumstances of the recent arrest of Juan Francisco Ealy Ortiz, owner of the Mexico City daily “El Universal”. CPJ does not pretend to have any information on the veracity of tax evasion charges levelled against Ealy Ortiz by federal […]
Radio announcer Jose Cardenas dismissed
On 22 July 1996, Jose Cardenas, the announcer for “Informativo Panorama” radio, operated by the ACIR Group, was dismissed for having ordered broadcast on 28 June a report on the appearance of an armed group called the Revolutionary Popular Army (EPR). After assessing its contents, Cardenas decided to broadcast the report, which was an in-depth […]
Belgian journalist Thierry Jonard and recording technician Juan Ozuna assaulted
On 20 July 1996, Thierry Jonard, a correspondent for the French- language Radio-Television Belgium (RTBF), and recording technician Juan Ozuna were assaulted by a group of armed men while they were filming a documentary in the region of Venustiano Carranza, in the state of Chiapas. The two were wounded in the head and the face. […]
Armed assailants raid journalist’s (f) home; threaten her
On 5 July 1996, seven armed men held up Fabiola Cancino de los Santos (f) at gunpoint at her Mexico City home. Fabiola Cancino de los Santos, a journalist with the daily “El Universal Grafico”, was in her home with family members, when the assailants forced their way in. They searched the entire house and […]
Government raises import duties on newsprint
IAPA urged the Mexican government to suspend a 150 percent rise in import duties on newsprint. The import duties on newsprint were raised from 6 to 15 percent, according to reports that appeared in the official Mexican government publication on 26 June 1996, the date on which the executive decree took effect. IAPA called the […]
Journalist kidnapped and beaten
On 23 June 1996, Oswald Alonso, a journalist with Radio Rama in Cuernavaca, Morelos state, was kidnapped from his home by three unidentified men. He was beaten and tortured for twenty four hours, and released the night of 24 June in Teloloapan, Guerrero state. A medical exam confirmed that Alonso had a dislocated collarbone, a […]
Television producer and journalist Jorge Javier Elorriaga freed
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 8 May and 13 February 1996, and 19 July 1995** Mexican television producer and journalist Jorge Javier Elorriaga, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison on 3 May 1996 on charges of terrorism, conspiracy and rebellion, was freed on appeal on 6 June. Appeals To
Journalist Rodolfo F. Pena target of death threat
On 11 May 1996, an anonymous message containing death threats was discovered in the mailbox at the home of journalist Rodolfo F. Pena. It is suspected that the threat is connected to the work of Pena, who is a reporter for the daily “La Jornada” as well as part of the daily’s publishing group. This […]
Journalist Jorge Javier Elorriaga sentenced to thirteen years in prison
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 13 February 1996 and 19 July 1995** On 3 May 1996, television producer Jorge Javier Elorriaga (previously reported as “Elorreaga”) was sentenced to thirteen years in prison on charges of terrorism, rebellion and conspiracy. His political rights (“derechos politicos”) were also suspended for four years. The Tuxtla Gutierrez judge, Juan Manuel […]
Harassment of community radio station
On the night of 5 April 1996, one of the loudspeakers of “La Radio Contigo” was shot at by unknown individuals. The station is based in San Miguel Xaltepec, Puebla, just east of Mexico City. Two weeks ago, “La Radio Contigo” conducted a live interview for two hours with two of the four candidates for […]
Jailed Mexican army officer suffers campaign of harassment due to criticism of human rights abuses
Sources: Press, Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de Derechos Humanos Brigadier General Jose Gallardo Rodriguez, whose imprisonment in Mexico in November 1993 is widely thought to be connected to his criticism of the military, was denied visits by a leading Mexican human right group — the Comision Mexicana de Defensa y Promocion de los […]
Journalist Ruperto Armenta Gerrardo murdered
Ruperto Armenta Gerardo, editor of the Guasave-based weekly, “El Regional”, in the state of Sinaloa, was beaten to death by unidentified men, on 5 February 1995. Gerardo’s body was found inside a water canal near the town of Guasave. Although it is not known if his murder was related to his work as a journalist, […]