Prominent Mexican Journalist Murdered

The body of Diario de Agua Prieta journalist, Saúl Martínez Ortega, was found near the Chihuahua-Sonoro border on 23 April 2007, six days after he was kidnapped by an armed gang Rosie Palomares, the director of "Diario de Agua Prieta" newspaper, said that when Saul Martínez Ortega's body was found "it was difficult to recognize him, due to the decomposition of his body.”

Palomares added that organised crime is believed to be behind the killing, since the journalist was taken by armed men whom the witnesses did not recognise as police. Saúl Martínez Ortega was kidnapped on 16 April in front of the municipal security office in Agua Prieta. He allegedly tried to escape in his car but the unidentified individuals followed him in their trucks. His abandoned car was later found with bullets inside it.

The journalist's brother, Erick Martínez, has said that it was likely that the motive for his brother's murder was his investigation of the kidnapping of Juan Carlos Sánchez. Sánchez's wife had given the journalist a list of suspects in the kidnapping, which is another reason why the murder is believed to be the work of organised crime.

On 17 April the offices of the Diario Cambio Sonora in the northwestern state of Sonora, Mexico were attacked by a grenade. He is the second journalist to disappear in suspicious circumstances in Mexico in 2007.

Front Line believes Saúl Martínez Orteg's abduction and the attack against the offices of Diario Cambio Sonora were related to his investigations into the reported links between local police officials and drug traffickers.

Actúe

Please send the letter below to the Mexican President urging an immediate investigation into Saúl Martínez Ortega's abduction and subsequent murder

Direcciones a escribir:

Mexico DF Presidente Felipe Calderon
Casa Presidencial
Los Pinos
Col. San Miguel Chapultepec
11850
Mexico DF

Carta:

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing to express my grave concern over information received about the abduction of Saúl Martínez Ortega, journalist and editor of the newspaper Diario de Agua Prieta, and a grenade attack on the offices of newspaper Diario Cambio Sonora, in the northwestern state of Sonora, Mexico.

On the night of 16 April 2007, Saúl Martínez Ortega was reportedly abducted by an armed group in front of the municipal security office in Agua Prieta. He allegedly tried to escape in his car but the unidentified individuals followed him in their trucks. His abandoned car was later found with bullets inside it. The following day, on 17 April, the offices of the Diario Cambio Sonora were attacked by a grenade.

I am concerned that the abduction of Saúl Martínez Ortega and the attack against the offices of Diario Cambio Sonora were related to the legitimate work in the defence of human rights carried out by journalists in Sonora. Prior to his abduction, Saúl Martínez Ortega had been investigating the reported links between local police officials and drug traffickers.

In this context, I urge the Mexican authorities to:

1)Initiate an immediate, exhaustive and impartial investigation into the abduction of Saúl Martínez Ortega and the attack against the offices of the Diario Cambio Sonora, with a view to locating and establishing the safety of Saúl Martínez Ortega, identifying the persons responsible, publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards; 2)Assure the security of the family of Saúl Martínez Ortega and all journalists working in Mexico and establish and/or maintain protective measures; 3)Take measures to end intimidation of human rights defenders in order that they may safely continue with their work.

Yours sincerely,

Action Finished:

Acción finalizada:

Esta Acción Urgente ha finalizado ahora. Ya no se requiere actuar sobre este tema. Gracias por actuar en este caso.

Front Line publica Acciones Urgentes a favor de defensores/as de los derechos humanos en riesgo todos los días. Estas Acciones permanecen activas, normalmente, en nuestro sitio web por un período de aproximadamente seis semanas, según el caso. Transcurrido este tiempo, se las archiva. Front Line mantiene un informe de seguimiento sobre todos estos casos, pero no requiere proseguir con acciones pasadas las seis semanas, salvo que hubiese cambios significativos en el mismo.

México

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Prominent Mexican Journalist Murdered