The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its regional group, the
Federation of Latin American and Caribbean Journalists (FEPALC) have condemned
the murder of Jean Paul Ibarra Ramirez, a photographer for El Correo newspaper who was shot dead on 13 February.
According
to reports, Ramirez was killed as he was riding his motorbike with journalist Jenny
Luliana Marchán Arroyo who sustained serious guns wounds in the attack. She was
admitted at the hospital in Iguala city in Guerrero state, Western
Mexico where she remains in critical condition.
"The
violence against journalists has reached intolerable levels in many states of Mexico," said
Celso Schroeder, President of FEPALC. "It is time for the Prosecutor General to
show commitment to fighting attacks against journalists."
The
Office of the Prosecutor General is widely criticised for weakness in its
investigations into murders of journalists. At least ten journalists were killed
in 2008 in circumstances related to their work.
"The
impunity for Journalists' killers is leading to self-censorship which, in turn,
erodes credibility of media and curtails civil liberties,"according to Zuliana Láinez,
head of the human rights section of FEPALC.
The
IFJ and FEPALC are supporting the National Syndicate of Press Editors (SNRP),
IFJ affiliate, which has called for a rigorous investigation in this murder and
the prosecution of those responsible for it.
For
more information contact the IFJ at
+32 2 235 2207
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists
in 123 countries worldwide
