Mexico newspaper ceases publication after reporter shot dead

A Mexican newspaper has ceased publication after one of its reporters has been shot dead.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 3 April 2017, 05:15 PM
Updated : 3 April 2017, 05:15 PM

The Notre de Ciudad Juarez newspaper says “the violence against journalists and the lack of punishment for those responsible is forcing it to stop printing”.

In an editorial, the regional paper said Sunday's print edition would be its last.

Oscar Cantu, the Spanish-speaking editor of Norte de Ciudad Juarez, said: "There are neither the guarantees nor the security to exercise critical, counterbalanced journalism."

"Everything in life has a beginning and an end, and a price to pay, and if the price is life, I am not prepared for any more of my collaborators to pay it, nor am I prepared to pay it either."

The editor said the digital version would also be closed "soon".

Miroslava Breach, a journalist who worked for the paper in Chihuahua city, was shot dead last month.

She was one of three journalists killed in Mexico in March.

Breach had reported extensively on the links between organised crime and politicians in Chihuahua state for Norte de Ciudad Juarez and for the La Jornada, a national newspaper based in Mexico City, according to the BBC.

She was shot eight times in her car outside her home in the state capital, Chihuahua when one of her children was in the vehicle but was not hurt.

The gunmen left a note saying: "For being a loud-mouth."

Thirty-five journalists have been murdered in Mexico because of their work since 1992, and a quarter of those was also tortured, the Committee to Protect Journalists says, according to BBC report.

Another three died on dangerous assignments.

In the same period, 50 journalists were killed in incidents where the motive was not clear.

Last month, the governor of the state of Chihuahua said his government did not have the means to tackle organised crime.

He said he had requested federal resources to help local police fight the drug cartels.