36 journalists killed in Latin America since 2011 (Interactive map)
Impunity is a common thread among those murdered.
On Thursday, the dismembered bodies of three journalists were found in the Mexican state of Veracruz’s Zamorana canal, bringing the tally of journalist deaths in Latin America to 36 since the beginning of 2011.
The murders of Gabriel Huge, Guillermo Luna, and Esteban Rodríguez are the latest in a string of attacks, presumably related to Mexico’s ongoing bout with narcotraffickers, that have left at least seven members of the media dead in Veracruz in the past year. But they also signal an ongoing crisis in the region, which continues to be one of the most dangerous for journalists.
In 2012 alone, eight have died in the crossfire or been directly targeted by assailants. Many were kidnapped and tortured before they were killed.
The information below was extracted from data collected by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based non-profit that defends the right of journalists to report the news worldwide without fear of reprisal.
Slain Journalists throughout Latin America since 2011
Motive and circumstances are unclear in many of the 36 deaths. Each of the red points on the map above represents one case. Clicking on a point will reveal the name, age (when available), and affiliation of the journalist, as well as when and where they were found. Each post also includes a link to more information about the case. For the complete data set, click here.
Mexico and Brazil the most deadly countries for Latin American Journalists
Nearly one-third of the region’s journalist killings over the past 16 months have happened in Mexico. Journalists have long been targets of violence in the country, but have been increasingly victimized since President Felipe Calderon waged a war on drug cartels in 2006.
Brazil follows Mexico closely at 25 percent, with those who cover corruption being targeted the most. In one case this year, for example, journalist Mario Randolfo Marques Lopes was abducted from his home at night and shot to death the following morning. Marques, who had recently reported on corruption in the courts, had survived a kidnapping and five shots to the head (which left him in a coma for three days) just a year before, according to CPJ.
A simpler representation is mapped out below.
Visit the Committee to Protect Journalists’ website for more details, including information on other regions.
(Photo: Screenshot, Google Maps)
