WAN-IFRA, WEF condemn murder of Mexican editor
Since the beginning of the president's administration on 1 December 2006, at least 30 journalists have been murdered and many more have disappeared. In very few cases have the perpetrators been brought to justice.
Macías was the news editor at Nuevo Laredo-based daily Primera Hora. Her decapitated body was found on 24 September with a message allegedly signed by the Zetas drug cartel accusing her of using local online social networks to expose drug-related violence. Earlier in September, two bodies were found with similar letters reportedly signed by the same criminal group.
Call for swift justice
"We are appalled that Ms Macías was murdered for using social media and that a climate of impunity protects those who kill and threaten people for exercising their right to freedom of expression," said WAN-IFRA in a letter to President Calderón. In expressing solidarity with Primera Hora and the wider Mexican media community, the global press organisations called on the Mexican authorities "to ensure that those who murdered Ms Macías are quickly brought to justice and that the climate of impunity is ended."
Mexico has become the most dangerous country for journalists in the western hemisphere. Complete news blackouts regularly affect the state of Tamaulipas and other regions in the north of the country, where drug cartels tend to be the de facto authority and widespread self-censorship has become the norm amongst media professionals.
