Mexico’s Human Rights Commission Slams Border State’s Government Over Jailed, Assaulted Journalist

Mexico’s Human Rights Commission has issued a scathing report slamming the Tamaulipas government over how a local reporter from the border city of Reynosa was assaulted and jailed by state cops.

Mexico’s Human Rights Commission (CNDH) asked the Tamaulipas government to set up measures so that authorities are forced to respect the free press and allow them to carry out their craft. The group also asked the government to provide some sort of relief to the victim and to further train authorities as to how to respect journalists practicing their trade.

As Breitbart Texas previously reported, the border city of Reynosa is one of the strongholds of Mexico’s Gulf Cartel. The powerful criminal organization has been linked to drug trafficking, human smuggling, arms smuggling, human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, carjacking, and fierce territorial gun battles. The drug cartel has been able to operate with great impunity in Reynosa., They are able to infiltrate authorities at all levels, silence the local media, and even establish their own city-wide surveillance network

The Tamaulipas government has not issued out any statements acknowledging the report nor have they announced any upcoming changes to their protocols.

On July 28, 2014 a photojournalist went to the state police headquarters in Reynosa, according to a copy of the report by the CNDH obtained by Breitbart Texas.  The report does not identify the victim of the assault. The journalist tried to go into the building but was denied access. As he was leaving, the reporter’s attention was drawn to a convoy of police vehicles escorting an unmarked truck heading towards the building. The man photographed the convoy as they pulled inside.

Moments later, police officers came out and confronted him as to why he had been photographing the police vehicles. According to the report, the victim identified himself as a journalist and said he was simply doing his job. Despite the claims, the man said he was insulted, assaulted, and handcuffed. The cops then seized his camera and cell-phone.

The police officers then took the reporter before a supervisor and then, before a state prosecutor who charged him with having been the one who assaulted the police officers. The CNDH noted in their report their concern that the criminal charges against the reporter remained pending in state court and asked that the government respect the rights of journalists to carry out their craft.

Ildefonso Ortiz is an award winning journalist with Breitbart Texas you can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.