Mexican Journalist Missing for a Month
Freedom House is deeply concerned for the safety of Mexican journalist Federico Manuel Garcia Contreras, who has been missing for a month, and urges local authorities to coordinate with the federal attorney’s office to conduct a swift and thorough investigation on the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. He had been a graphic reporter for local newspaper El Punto Critico and also worked for the radio show Voces del Mediodía.
Garcia disappeared on May 16th in San Luis Potosí, where he had travelled to work on an investigative article. According to Garcia’s relatives, he had an argument with the Municipal Chief Police Jose Alberto Troas after he was not granted a permit to promote his work and forbidden him to conduct any interviews. According to several sources, there are inconsistencies in the municipal police declarations regarding a detention of the reporter.
Freedom House has continually expressed concerns with the dangerous environment for journalists in Mexico and calls on authorities to effectively implement the legislation recently approved to ensure their protection and safety.
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