Another journalist killed in Veracruz, Mexico

Freedom House mourns the death of reporter Victor Báez found this morning in Xalapa, Mexico. Baez covered police and local politics news for Milenio Xalapa and also founded the website www.reporterospoliciacos.com. He had been kidnapped by three gunmen yesterday around midnight from the headquarters of “Reporteros policiacos”.

Báez had a long career for more than 25 years in which he trained journalists on crime coverage and worked for newspaper AZ and Milenio.  According to Proceso, the state attorney´s office had asked him to leave the state to guarantee his safety.

The local government in Veracruz held a press conference this morning condemning the brutal killing, holding organized crime responsible and informing that the state attorney´s office has opened an investigation. Freedom House urges authorities of all levels to take immediate actions in Veracruz, which has become the deadliest state in Mexico.

Báez is the fifth journalist to be killed in Veracruz over the past two months. The wave of violence journalists face in Mexico continues to spread as reporters covering local police and political issues are regularly targeted.  Mexico is ranked Partly Free in Freedom in the World 2012, Freedom House's survey of political rights and civil liberties, Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2012, and Partly Free in Freedom on the Net 2011. 

Learn More:
Freedom in the World 2011: Mexico
Freedom of the Press 2011: Mexico
Freedom on the Net 2011: Mexico
Journalists Need Better Protection in Mexico