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UNESCO chief speaks out at murder of another Mexican journalist

Stop killing journalists.
UNESCO
Stop killing journalists.

UNESCO chief speaks out at murder of another Mexican journalist

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom has condemned the murder of Mexican journalist José Emilio Galindo Robles, the second such killing in less than one month.

Mr. Galindo Robles, who served as director of Radio Universidad de Guadalajara in Ciudad Guzmán, was found gagged and tied to his bed on 24 November. The cause of death was said to be a fractured cranium, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) noted in a news release.

“I hope the Mexican authorities will shed light on this crime which proves, yet again, that journalists are on the front line of the daily battle for press freedom,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.

Specializing in environmental issues, the 43-year-old journalist won the National Prize for Environmental Journalism in 2004. He came second in the Latin American Radio Biennial for his investigation of toxic waste discharged by businesses into the country’s most polluted river, the Santiago.

Mr. Galindo Robles’ murder follows the killing of Vladimir Antuna García, a crime correspondent for a newspaper in the city of Durango whose body was found on 2 November.

According to the International Federation of Journalists, more than 50 media professionals have been assassinated in Mexico since 2000.