In 2014, 43 students who took over a bus and protested from Guerrero disappeared together. They were taken into police custody but later disappeared. It is considered one of the worst human rights tragedies in Mexican history.
Mexico City, First Published Aug 24, 2022, 11:31 AM IST
Mexico City: Eight years ago in 2014, a journalist was killed within hours of posting on Facebook about the disappearance of 43 students. The killing took place on Monday afternoon in Southern Mexico. Freddie Roman, a journalist, was found dead in his car in the city of Chilpancingo. Freddie Roman is a media activist who has published his work on various social media pages and worked for a local newspaper.
In 2014, 43 students who took over a bus and protested from Guerrero disappeared together. They were taken into police custody but later disappeared. It is considered one of the worst human rights tragedies in Mexican history. The case came back into the limelight last week when the Truth Commission labeled the atrocity, which involved agents of various agencies, a “state crime”.
A few hours before his death, Roman had published a lengthy Facebook post titled “State Crime Without Charging the Boss”. It mentioned an alleged meeting between four officials, including former Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam, at the time of the students’ disappearance. Dozens of warrants have been issued for suspects including military officers, police officers and cartel members since the publication of the Truth Commission report last week. Murillo Karam was also arrested by the police.
According to government figures, 12 journalists have been killed in Mexico so far this year. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an NGO, says it is nine. But some media estimate 15 or 16. Around 150 journalists have been killed since 2000. According to the RSF report, Mexico is considered one of the countries most threatened by the media.
Last Updated Aug 24, 2022, 11:31 AM IST
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