The U.N. condemns the murders of two Chiapas activists and a radio journalist, urging Mexico to double efforts to protect its public, the Office of the High Commissioner said in a press release Tuesday.
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The defenders Jose Santiago Gomez Alvarez and Noe Jimenez Pablo, were found dead on January 17 in the city of Amatan, while police in the state of Baja California Sur reported the murder of radio journalist Jose Rafael Murua Manriquez on Sunday.
Jimenez and Murua were beneficiaries of the Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, operated by the Ministry of the Interior.
"The fact that both Murua and Jimenez were beneficiaries of the protection mechanism must lead to a profound reflection on their effectiveness. The protection measures granted, as well as their implementation, and follow-up must be analyzed and evaluated," said Jan Jarab, United Nations Human Development representative in Mexico.
Victims notified police of various threats and harassment cases prior to their tragic deaths, Jarab said, noting that authorities failed to investigate the complaints in “a comprehensive manner.”
The U.N.official recommended Mexico act quickly and bring justice and closure for the families of the three victims, adding that victims’ families should also be protected during this time. Initiating a “prompt and effective” investigation will discourage other similar acts of violence.
Last year’s homicide rate broke past records with a total of 28,816 case files opened, a 15 percent increase from previous years.
According to the Mexican National Human Rights Commission, approximately 140 journalists have been killed in Mexico since 2000. Since 2005, the whereabouts of 21 media workers remain unknown.