Estimado Gobernador
Lic. Gabino Cué Monteagudo
Governor of Oaxaca State, Mexico
Estimada Señora Procuradora
Arely Gómez González
Attorney General of Mexico
Dear Sir and Madam:
We are shocked at the murder of journalist Marcos Hernández Bautista, age 38, a reporter for the daily Noticias, Voz e Imagen de Oaxaca. He was also a municipal councilor of culture in Santiago Jamiltepec and a contributor to radio stations in Pinotepa Nacional and Santiago Jamiltepec. He was shot in the head with a 9mm pistolas he entered his car outside a bar on January 21 in the municipality of San Andrés Huaxpaltepec in Oaxaca State.
The editorial director of Noticias, Voz e Imagen de Oaxaca said that Hernández "took on the topic of local cacicazgos" (local strongmen who rule parts of the region) and wrote about their alleged influence in local politics. He had been working on stories about local indigenous radio stations, the visit of politician and former presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador and an investigation about district realignment for elections and its impact on powerful groups. Because his stories covered sensitive issues, his editor said he "was often in fear.”
The Mexican Regional Office of Article 19, an international human rights organization, has documented nine murders of journalists of Oaxaca since 2000. We believe that Marcos Hernández Bautista was murdered for his journalistic endeavors. We strongly urge that you thoroughly investigate his murder, determine the motive, publish the results and bring those responsible to justice.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Stefan-Szittai Christine Stonebraker-Martínez
Co-Coordinators
