Another journalist murdered in Veracruz

Journalist Leobardo Vázquez , who covered general information of the community of Gutiérrez Zamora, located in the north of the state of Veracruz , was gunned down on the afternoon of March 21, 2018, at his home, according to official information.

The president of the Veracruz State Commission for the Attention and Protection of Journalists, Ana Laura Pérez, stated the victim, 42, was the manager of the news website Enlace de Gutiérrez Zamora .

Previously, the journalist had been a correspondent of newspapers La Opinión de Poza Rica , and Vanguardia , both based in Veracruz. Similarly to other cases of journalists murdered in our country, international organizations have reacted to the news:

In the last seven years, 22 journalists – including Leobardo – have been murdered in this coastal state. According to statistics of the Veracruz State Commission for the Attention and Protection of Journalists, 17 of these cases took place during the administration of Javier Duarte (PRI) and thus far, there have been five during the administration of Miguel Ángel Yunes (PAN).

The current Governor of the state has asked not to “overreact” to the issue of journalists killed in his state under his administration, as he claims some of the victims were working for organized crime groups.

“That is the reality, let's not overreact. In Veracruz we respect the work of journalists,” said Mr. Yunes following the murder of Leobardo Vázquez.

He claimed that Gumaro Pérez Aguilando , murdered last December, was, in fact, working for organized crime groups, similarly to Cándido Ríos , who according to the Governo,r had been seen with a leader of the Los Zetas Cartels on the day of his death.

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Regarding Honduran journalist Edwin Rivera Paz , who came to Mexico seeking asylum, Governor Yunes hinted Rivera was murdered for reasons other than his work as an “alleged” journalist.

“The Honduran who is an alleged journalist. No, this was some guy fleeing from Honduras who was killed in Acayucan. Terrible but he wasn't killed for being a journalist," claimed Yunes.

"We cannot be responsible for those cases. Honorable journalists, like yourselves, obviously have all the protection of the Government of the State and if you feel threatened or are somehow concerned over something then you can come to us and we will address this through the Commission for the Attention and Protection of Journalists,” added the Governor.

According to this Commission, the following are the journalists murdered under the Yunes Administration:

1. Ricardo Monlui Ruiz
2. Edwin Rivera Paz
3. Cándido Ríoz Vázquez
4. Gumaro Pérez Aguilando
5. Leobardo Vázquez Atzin

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