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Mexican drug trade reporter Javier Valdez killed | Mexican drug trade reporter Javier Valdez killed |
(35 minutes later) | |
Mexican journalist Javier Valdez, known for his award-winning coverage of the drug trade, has been shot dead. | Mexican journalist Javier Valdez, known for his award-winning coverage of the drug trade, has been shot dead. |
Unidentified attackers opened fire on him on Monday in Culiacan city in the north-western state of Sinaloa, where he lived and worked. | Unidentified attackers opened fire on him on Monday in Culiacan city in the north-western state of Sinaloa, where he lived and worked. |
Valdez, 50, received the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in 2011 for his work. | Valdez, 50, received the International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in 2011 for his work. |
He is one of several journalists who have been killed in Mexico this year. | He is one of several journalists who have been killed in Mexico this year. |
Valdez was shot dead on the street near the premises of the Mexican news weekly he had founded, Ríodoce. | |
During his career spanning nearly three decades, Valdez wrote extensively on drug-trafficking and organised crime in Mexico, including the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel. | During his career spanning nearly three decades, Valdez wrote extensively on drug-trafficking and organised crime in Mexico, including the powerful Sinaloa drug cartel. |
The cartel is believed to be responsible for an estimated 25% of all illegal drugs that enter the US via Mexico. | The cartel is believed to be responsible for an estimated 25% of all illegal drugs that enter the US via Mexico. |
Its founder Joaquin Guzman, also known as "El Chapo" (Shorty), was captured in 2014 and is currently in jail awaiting trial in the US. | Its founder Joaquin Guzman, also known as "El Chapo" (Shorty), was captured in 2014 and is currently in jail awaiting trial in the US. |
Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto condemned the killing, calling it an "outrageous crime", and added that his government remained committed to press freedom. | |
Sinaloa state attorney general Juan Jose Rios said they were investigating the death, and would protect Valdez's family and colleagues. | Sinaloa state attorney general Juan Jose Rios said they were investigating the death, and would protect Valdez's family and colleagues. |
"Above all else we are interested in Javier's family," he told reporters. | "Above all else we are interested in Javier's family," he told reporters. |
The CPJ's Mexico representative Jan-Albert Hootsen said Valdez's killing was "an attack on journalism, all journalists throughout Mexico". | The CPJ's Mexico representative Jan-Albert Hootsen said Valdez's killing was "an attack on journalism, all journalists throughout Mexico". |
Valdez and his publication had been threatened before. | |
He told the freedom of expression organisation Index on Censorship last month that a hand grenade had been thrown into Ríodoce's offices in 2009, "although it only caused material damages". | |
"I've had phone calls telling me to stop investigating certain murders or drug bosses. I've had to suppress important information because they could have my family killed if I mention it. | |
Sources of mine have been killed or disappeared… The government couldn't care less. They do nothing to protect you. There have been many cases and this keeps happening." | |
Speaking at a launch of his book last year, he said being a journalist "is like being on a blacklist" and that gangs "will decide what day they are going to kill you". | |
In March, after journalist Miroslava Breach was shot dead, Valdez was quoted as saying "No to silence" and "Let them kill us all". | In March, after journalist Miroslava Breach was shot dead, Valdez was quoted as saying "No to silence" and "Let them kill us all". |
Like Valdez, Breach had reported on organised crime, drug-trafficking and corruption. | Like Valdez, Breach had reported on organised crime, drug-trafficking and corruption. |
Other Mexican journalists killed this year include freelancers Maximino Rodríguez and Cecilio Pineda Birto, according to the CPJ. | |
The CPJ says at least 40 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 1992. | The CPJ says at least 40 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 1992. |