Freedom of Speech Alive and Well in Mexico … NOT!!! Misael Tamayo Hernandez, editor of El Despertar de la Costa Found Dead

Just another case of a simple heart attack in Mexico. Well, maybe not …

Misael Tamayo Hernandez, editor of El Despertar de la Costa was found dead in the Venus Motel  room in the ZIHUATANEJO, Mexico. The cause of death, a heart attack. Seems straight forward enough, died of natural causes. Not so fast …

• Hernandez was found dead a day after running stories about organized crime and corruption in the city government.
• He was found early Friday nearly naked, with his hands tied behind his back, in a room at the Venus Motel, Zihuatanejo police officials said.
• He was lying on a bed, covered only with a sheet, and investigators found three puncture marks on his body, one in his right hand and two others in a forearm.

Tamayo Hernandez, who was well-respected in the local journalism community, published a story on Thursday alleging that city officials gave illegal discounts on water services to individuals and businesses. The same edition also contained stories on organized crime.

 

Numerous journalists have been attacked or killed in recent years in Mexico, presumably as revenge for unfavorable reports on criminals, including drug traffickers and corrupt government officials. (Houston Chronicle)

 

“Tamayo’s death brings the number of journalists killed or missing in Mexico since the start of 2006 to seven, which confirms it as the western hemisphere’s deadliest country for the press,” the press freedom organization said. “The initial enquiries indicate that Tamayo was killed because of his newspaper’s investigative reporting on drug trafficking.” (Reporters Without Borders)