Threatened Mexican journalist granted US asylum--Reuters
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molly
Sep 21, 2010, 7:05:58 PM9/21/10
to Frontera LIst
At today's news conference in El Paso, four other reporters who are
exiled in the US acknowledged the grant of political asylum awarded to
Jorge Luis Aguirre. In addition, the head of the Border Network for
Human Rights, Fernando Garcia, and immigration attorney Carlos
Spector, spoke about the community organization and efforts that
assisted Aguirre in his asylum petition, including funding his trip to
Washington to testify to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last
year.
The other asylum seekers are Emilio Gutierrez Soto who left his
hometown of Ascencion, Chihuahua, in June 2008. When he asked for
asylum at the US border, he was separated from his teenaged son and
imprisoned for 8 months by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE). His son was detained for 2 months. Emilio was released from
detention in January 2009 and will have an asylum hearing in January
2011.
Luis Horacio Najera was a reporter for Grupo Reforma. He fled directly
to Canada to seek asylum with his family as he wanted to avoid being
imprisoned in the US. He has been granted refuge in that country and
he spoke to the press via Skype from his home in Vancouver.
Ricardo Chavez Aldana fled Juarez last December after he condemned the
killings of his two teenaged nephews. The boys were shot to death in
front of their mother. the government said publicly that the boys were
killed as a result of their involvement in narco-trafficking, though
the family denied this and Ricardo denounced the crime and the false
accusation on the radio in Juarez. Ricardo was allowed into the US at
the bridge in El Paso, but his sister and the mother of the murdered
kids was detained for a month by ICE.
The final participant today was Alejandro Hernandez Pacheco who is now
formerly seeking asylum after fleeing the country in August. He was
kidnapped for 5 days by a criminal organization seeking to influence
the media and then presented to the international press and offered no
protection from the federal government.
All of these exiled journalists must wait five months after filing
their application for asylum before they can get a permit to work
legally in the US. During the time they are not eligible to work, they
must rely on help from family, friends and community supporters for
their basic needs. All of the journalists at this press conference
have families to support as well.
There should be more follow-up on this story in the next news cycle.
The Lapolaka account is below... molly
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2115054820100921
Threatened Mexican journalist granted US asylum
Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:08pm EDT
* Editor was threatened after colleague was murdered
* Mexico one of world's most dangerous countries for media
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A Mexican journalist
threatened by drug gangs said on Tuesday he had been granted political
asylum in the United States to escape the cartels' increasingly
violent campaign to silence the media.
Jorge Luis Aguirre, editor of Ciudad Juarez-based online newspaper La
Polaka, fled across the border to El Paso, Texas, after receiving
telephone threats minutes after the murder of a fellow journalist by
hitmen in November 2008.
Aguirre is one of the first Mexican reporters to be granted political
asylum in the United States.
"I can breathe again ... this asylum opens the door to journalists
caught in the middle in Mexico, where there is no justice and where
the (local) governments are part of drug trafficking," Aguirre told
Reuters.
U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment.
Media groups say Mexico is one of the world's most dangerous places
for reporters. A TV cameraman who was abducted in northern Mexico this
year requested asylum in El Paso last week.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
http://lapolaka.com/2010/09/20/mejor-bicentenario-que-vicentenario/
MEJOR BICENTENARIO QUE VICENTENARIO…
20 Septiembre 2010 @ 4:12 am
Otorga EU asilo político a Jorgeluix Editor de La Polaka amenazado de
muerte por el gobierno de Reyes Baeza que dedica su logro a
periodistas asesinados impunemente en México
EL PASO, TEXAS.- El gobierno de Estados Unidos otorgó asilo político
esta semana al periodista juarense Jorge Luis Aguirre, Director de
LaPolaka.com, quien permanecía exiliado en Estados Unidos desde hace
casi dos años.
Este asilo es probablemente el primero que otorga Estados Unidos a un
periodista mexicano. Aguirre dedicó este logro singular en memoria de
todos los periodistas mexicanos, amenazados y exterminados impunemente
por balas asesinas en México.
Lo sobresaliente del caso, es que Jorgeluix cabildeó la protección del
gobierno americano sin asesoría ninguna de expertos abogados de
migración y demostró haber sido acosado de muerte por el Gobierno de
Chihuahua que encabeza Reyes Baeza.
Jorge Luis se exilió junto con su familia en Estados Unidos el 13 de
noviembre de 2008, a unas horas de ser ejecutado el periodista Armando
‘Choco’ Rodríguez, cuando una voz criminal lo insultó y le gritó
iracundo que era ‘El Siguiente’.
Previo a este macabro aviso, Aguirre había recibido sistemáticas
amenazas de Victor Valencia de Los Santos quien le mando decir que ’se
lo iba a chingar’ porque la Procuradora Patricia González estaba muy
‘encabronada’ con La Polaka.
La queja fue documentada y llevada por Jorge Luis hasta el Subcomité
de Crimen y Drogas del Senado de Estados Unidos en Washington,
durante una audiencia testimonial ante el Pleno el 17 de marzo de
2009.
En respuesta, Víctor Valencia creció impune y fue premiado por el
Gobernador Reyes Baeza designándolo Secretario de Seguridad Pública en
el Estado, de donde trataría sin éxito de brincar a la Presidencia
Municipal de Ciudad Juárez.
Aguirre manifestó sentirse muy contento por el logro en favor de la
libertad de expresión, pero también muy humilde por haber recibido
este privilegio que como exiliado en Estados Unidos salvó su vida y la
de su familia.
-No es un éxito personal, sino una conquista de todos los periodistas
mexicanos perseguidos y asesinados por políticos en contubernio con el
crimen organizado- subrayó el Editor de La Polaka.
Aguirre detalló que como reconocimiento a los periodistas mexicanos
que arriesgan su vida todos los días, dedica este asilo político para
que siente un precedente que ayude a salvar mas vidas de los
crecientes comunicadores indefensos, que no tienen a quien recurrir
para salvarse de ser fusilados por el pecado de cumplir con su
trabajo.
-Mientras la guerra del narcotráfico no toque la red de intereses
económicos y castigue a narcopolíticos encapuchados en posiciones de
poder, no habrá esperanza de paz y progreso en México y
específicamente en Juárez- dijo.
Aguirre externó su eterno agradecimiento al Presidente Barack Obama
por su asilo humanitario y la protección de su gobierno, así como a la
ciudad de El Paso por acogerlo y darle refugio hospitalario.
Por último, Jorgeluix externó su gratitud personal al Congresista
Silvestre Reyes y los Senadores Demócratas Richard Durbin y Jeff
Bingaman; Sal Payán, Jose Reyes Ferriz, Cesar Duarte Jaques, Gabriel
Flores Viramontes, Mariana Chew y una larga lista de amigos y colegas
juarenses y paseños que le tendieron la mano en los momentos mas
desesperados.
Diría Howard Campbell, ilustre catedrático de UTEP:
-Mejor Bicentenario que Vicentenario…
http://lapolaka.com/2010/09/20/mejor-bicentenario-que-vicentenario/
Descargado de Lapolaka.com © 2010
exiled in the US acknowledged the grant of political asylum awarded to
Jorge Luis Aguirre. In addition, the head of the Border Network for
Human Rights, Fernando Garcia, and immigration attorney Carlos
Spector, spoke about the community organization and efforts that
assisted Aguirre in his asylum petition, including funding his trip to
Washington to testify to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last
year.
The other asylum seekers are Emilio Gutierrez Soto who left his
hometown of Ascencion, Chihuahua, in June 2008. When he asked for
asylum at the US border, he was separated from his teenaged son and
imprisoned for 8 months by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE). His son was detained for 2 months. Emilio was released from
detention in January 2009 and will have an asylum hearing in January
2011.
Luis Horacio Najera was a reporter for Grupo Reforma. He fled directly
to Canada to seek asylum with his family as he wanted to avoid being
imprisoned in the US. He has been granted refuge in that country and
he spoke to the press via Skype from his home in Vancouver.
Ricardo Chavez Aldana fled Juarez last December after he condemned the
killings of his two teenaged nephews. The boys were shot to death in
front of their mother. the government said publicly that the boys were
killed as a result of their involvement in narco-trafficking, though
the family denied this and Ricardo denounced the crime and the false
accusation on the radio in Juarez. Ricardo was allowed into the US at
the bridge in El Paso, but his sister and the mother of the murdered
kids was detained for a month by ICE.
The final participant today was Alejandro Hernandez Pacheco who is now
formerly seeking asylum after fleeing the country in August. He was
kidnapped for 5 days by a criminal organization seeking to influence
the media and then presented to the international press and offered no
protection from the federal government.
All of these exiled journalists must wait five months after filing
their application for asylum before they can get a permit to work
legally in the US. During the time they are not eligible to work, they
must rely on help from family, friends and community supporters for
their basic needs. All of the journalists at this press conference
have families to support as well.
There should be more follow-up on this story in the next news cycle.
The Lapolaka account is below... molly
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2115054820100921
Threatened Mexican journalist granted US asylum
Tue Sep 21, 2010 5:08pm EDT
* Editor was threatened after colleague was murdered
* Mexico one of world's most dangerous countries for media
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A Mexican journalist
threatened by drug gangs said on Tuesday he had been granted political
asylum in the United States to escape the cartels' increasingly
violent campaign to silence the media.
Jorge Luis Aguirre, editor of Ciudad Juarez-based online newspaper La
Polaka, fled across the border to El Paso, Texas, after receiving
telephone threats minutes after the murder of a fellow journalist by
hitmen in November 2008.
Aguirre is one of the first Mexican reporters to be granted political
asylum in the United States.
"I can breathe again ... this asylum opens the door to journalists
caught in the middle in Mexico, where there is no justice and where
the (local) governments are part of drug trafficking," Aguirre told
Reuters.
U.S. officials were not immediately available for comment.
Media groups say Mexico is one of the world's most dangerous places
for reporters. A TV cameraman who was abducted in northern Mexico this
year requested asylum in El Paso last week.
<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
http://lapolaka.com/2010/09/20/mejor-bicentenario-que-vicentenario/
MEJOR BICENTENARIO QUE VICENTENARIO…
20 Septiembre 2010 @ 4:12 am
Otorga EU asilo político a Jorgeluix Editor de La Polaka amenazado de
muerte por el gobierno de Reyes Baeza que dedica su logro a
periodistas asesinados impunemente en México
EL PASO, TEXAS.- El gobierno de Estados Unidos otorgó asilo político
esta semana al periodista juarense Jorge Luis Aguirre, Director de
LaPolaka.com, quien permanecía exiliado en Estados Unidos desde hace
casi dos años.
Este asilo es probablemente el primero que otorga Estados Unidos a un
periodista mexicano. Aguirre dedicó este logro singular en memoria de
todos los periodistas mexicanos, amenazados y exterminados impunemente
por balas asesinas en México.
Lo sobresaliente del caso, es que Jorgeluix cabildeó la protección del
gobierno americano sin asesoría ninguna de expertos abogados de
migración y demostró haber sido acosado de muerte por el Gobierno de
Chihuahua que encabeza Reyes Baeza.
Jorge Luis se exilió junto con su familia en Estados Unidos el 13 de
noviembre de 2008, a unas horas de ser ejecutado el periodista Armando
‘Choco’ Rodríguez, cuando una voz criminal lo insultó y le gritó
iracundo que era ‘El Siguiente’.
Previo a este macabro aviso, Aguirre había recibido sistemáticas
amenazas de Victor Valencia de Los Santos quien le mando decir que ’se
lo iba a chingar’ porque la Procuradora Patricia González estaba muy
‘encabronada’ con La Polaka.
La queja fue documentada y llevada por Jorge Luis hasta el Subcomité
de Crimen y Drogas del Senado de Estados Unidos en Washington,
durante una audiencia testimonial ante el Pleno el 17 de marzo de
2009.
En respuesta, Víctor Valencia creció impune y fue premiado por el
Gobernador Reyes Baeza designándolo Secretario de Seguridad Pública en
el Estado, de donde trataría sin éxito de brincar a la Presidencia
Municipal de Ciudad Juárez.
Aguirre manifestó sentirse muy contento por el logro en favor de la
libertad de expresión, pero también muy humilde por haber recibido
este privilegio que como exiliado en Estados Unidos salvó su vida y la
de su familia.
-No es un éxito personal, sino una conquista de todos los periodistas
mexicanos perseguidos y asesinados por políticos en contubernio con el
crimen organizado- subrayó el Editor de La Polaka.
Aguirre detalló que como reconocimiento a los periodistas mexicanos
que arriesgan su vida todos los días, dedica este asilo político para
que siente un precedente que ayude a salvar mas vidas de los
crecientes comunicadores indefensos, que no tienen a quien recurrir
para salvarse de ser fusilados por el pecado de cumplir con su
trabajo.
-Mientras la guerra del narcotráfico no toque la red de intereses
económicos y castigue a narcopolíticos encapuchados en posiciones de
poder, no habrá esperanza de paz y progreso en México y
específicamente en Juárez- dijo.
Aguirre externó su eterno agradecimiento al Presidente Barack Obama
por su asilo humanitario y la protección de su gobierno, así como a la
ciudad de El Paso por acogerlo y darle refugio hospitalario.
Por último, Jorgeluix externó su gratitud personal al Congresista
Silvestre Reyes y los Senadores Demócratas Richard Durbin y Jeff
Bingaman; Sal Payán, Jose Reyes Ferriz, Cesar Duarte Jaques, Gabriel
Flores Viramontes, Mariana Chew y una larga lista de amigos y colegas
juarenses y paseños que le tendieron la mano en los momentos mas
desesperados.
Diría Howard Campbell, ilustre catedrático de UTEP:
-Mejor Bicentenario que Vicentenario…
http://lapolaka.com/2010/09/20/mejor-bicentenario-que-vicentenario/
Descargado de Lapolaka.com © 2010
molly
Sep 21, 2010, 8:54:28 PM9/21/10
to Frontera LIst
Both Emilio Gutierrez Soto and Luis Horacio Najera have been awarded
the International Press Freedom award from the Canadian Journalists
for Free Expression.
http://www.ifex.org/awards/2010/09/09/press_freedom_awards/
9 September 2010
Campaigns and Advocacy
CJFE announces 2010 International Press Freedom Award honourees
(CJFE/IFEX) - Toronto - September 2, 2010 - Canadian Journalists for
Free Expression (CJFE) is proud to recognize international journalists
Emilio Gutierrez Soto, Luis Horacio Nájera, Serge Sabouang, Robert
Mintya and the late Bibi Ngota with the 2010 International Press
Freedom Awards, to be presented at the CJFE Gala: A Night to Honour
Fearless Reporting. These courageous journalists are chosen for their
extraordinary courage and for overcoming tremendous odds to report on
controversial stories despite dangerous circumstances.
"The journalists we are honouring have bravely put their personal
safety at risk to tell stories the world needs to hear," said Carol
Off, Chair of the CJFE Gala committee. "Our 2010 honourees have
defiantly devoted themselves to freedom of expression, proving that
the truth will not be silenced. Sadly, one of our awards will be
presented posthumously and two in absentia, underscoring the high
price that these journalists have paid."
The International Press Freedom Awards recognize the strength and
bravery of international journalists who overcome massive obstacles to
deliver news. In the face of judicial, physical or life-endangering
threats, these journalists work tirelessly so that news media remain
safe.
CJFE Gala: A Night to Honour Fearless Reporting
November 25, 2010, Toronto
The 13th annual CJFE Gala will be held at the Fairmont Royal York in
Toronto on Thursday, November 25, 2010. A cocktail reception begins at
6:00 p.m. followed by dinner and award presentations at 7:00 p.m.
2010 International Press Freedom Award Winners
Luis Horacio Nájera (Mexico) is a veteran journalist who spent more
than a decade reporting for La Reforma media group in Ciudad Juarez
and other hotspots along the Mexican-US border. Throughout his career
he has dedicated himself to investigating politically sensitive issues
ranging from government corruption to the trafficking of drugs, people
and weapons, until fears for his life and his family's safety forced
him to seek asylum in Canada. Emilio Gutierrez Soto (Mexico) was a
correspondent for the Ascension bureau of El Diario, a daily newspaper
based in Ciudad Juarez in the North-Western border state of Chihuahua.
After writing a number of stories that offended the Mexican military
he was forced to flee Mexico with his son and requested asylum in the
United States. He spent seven months in an immigration and customs
detention center before being released on bond. He is currently
awaiting his asylum hearing.
Serge Sabouang (Cameroon) is the publisher of the bimonthly newspaper
La Nation and presides over the ethics board of Union des Journalists
Libres du Cameroun. Robert Mintya (Cameroon) is the publisher of the
weekly Le Devoir, a newspaper known for its coverage of political
events. Bibi Ngota (Cameroon) was the editor of the Cameroon Express.
All three men were arrested in February 2010, after obtaining, but not
publishing, a government document that allegedly implicates a top
presidential aide of influence peddling and corruption. They were
charged with "imitating the signature of a member of government."
Ngota died in prison from undisclosed causes on April 22, 2010.
Sabouang and Mintya are being held at a pre-trial detention center and
face up to 15 years in jail.
About Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
CJFE boldly champions the free expression rights of journalists and
media workers around the world. In Canada, we monitor, defend and
promote free expression and access to information. We encourage and
support individuals and groups to be vigilant in the protection of
their own and others' free expression rights. We are active
participants and builders of the global free expression community.
The CJFE awards gala is made possible by the generous support of
sponsors. Potential sponsors can visit http://www.cjfe.org/awards06/sponsors.html
for information.
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
PO Box 407
555 Richmond St. W., Suite 1101
Toronto, ON M5V 3B1
Canada
cjfe @ cjfe.org
Phone: +1 416 515 9622
Fax: +1 416 515 7879
the International Press Freedom award from the Canadian Journalists
for Free Expression.
http://www.ifex.org/awards/2010/09/09/press_freedom_awards/
9 September 2010
Campaigns and Advocacy
CJFE announces 2010 International Press Freedom Award honourees
(CJFE/IFEX) - Toronto - September 2, 2010 - Canadian Journalists for
Free Expression (CJFE) is proud to recognize international journalists
Emilio Gutierrez Soto, Luis Horacio Nájera, Serge Sabouang, Robert
Mintya and the late Bibi Ngota with the 2010 International Press
Freedom Awards, to be presented at the CJFE Gala: A Night to Honour
Fearless Reporting. These courageous journalists are chosen for their
extraordinary courage and for overcoming tremendous odds to report on
controversial stories despite dangerous circumstances.
"The journalists we are honouring have bravely put their personal
safety at risk to tell stories the world needs to hear," said Carol
Off, Chair of the CJFE Gala committee. "Our 2010 honourees have
defiantly devoted themselves to freedom of expression, proving that
the truth will not be silenced. Sadly, one of our awards will be
presented posthumously and two in absentia, underscoring the high
price that these journalists have paid."
The International Press Freedom Awards recognize the strength and
bravery of international journalists who overcome massive obstacles to
deliver news. In the face of judicial, physical or life-endangering
threats, these journalists work tirelessly so that news media remain
safe.
CJFE Gala: A Night to Honour Fearless Reporting
November 25, 2010, Toronto
The 13th annual CJFE Gala will be held at the Fairmont Royal York in
Toronto on Thursday, November 25, 2010. A cocktail reception begins at
6:00 p.m. followed by dinner and award presentations at 7:00 p.m.
2010 International Press Freedom Award Winners
Luis Horacio Nájera (Mexico) is a veteran journalist who spent more
than a decade reporting for La Reforma media group in Ciudad Juarez
and other hotspots along the Mexican-US border. Throughout his career
he has dedicated himself to investigating politically sensitive issues
ranging from government corruption to the trafficking of drugs, people
and weapons, until fears for his life and his family's safety forced
him to seek asylum in Canada. Emilio Gutierrez Soto (Mexico) was a
correspondent for the Ascension bureau of El Diario, a daily newspaper
based in Ciudad Juarez in the North-Western border state of Chihuahua.
After writing a number of stories that offended the Mexican military
he was forced to flee Mexico with his son and requested asylum in the
United States. He spent seven months in an immigration and customs
detention center before being released on bond. He is currently
awaiting his asylum hearing.
Serge Sabouang (Cameroon) is the publisher of the bimonthly newspaper
La Nation and presides over the ethics board of Union des Journalists
Libres du Cameroun. Robert Mintya (Cameroon) is the publisher of the
weekly Le Devoir, a newspaper known for its coverage of political
events. Bibi Ngota (Cameroon) was the editor of the Cameroon Express.
All three men were arrested in February 2010, after obtaining, but not
publishing, a government document that allegedly implicates a top
presidential aide of influence peddling and corruption. They were
charged with "imitating the signature of a member of government."
Ngota died in prison from undisclosed causes on April 22, 2010.
Sabouang and Mintya are being held at a pre-trial detention center and
face up to 15 years in jail.
About Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
CJFE boldly champions the free expression rights of journalists and
media workers around the world. In Canada, we monitor, defend and
promote free expression and access to information. We encourage and
support individuals and groups to be vigilant in the protection of
their own and others' free expression rights. We are active
participants and builders of the global free expression community.
The CJFE awards gala is made possible by the generous support of
sponsors. Potential sponsors can visit http://www.cjfe.org/awards06/sponsors.html
for information.
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
PO Box 407
555 Richmond St. W., Suite 1101
Toronto, ON M5V 3B1
Canada
cjfe @ cjfe.org
Phone: +1 416 515 9622
Fax: +1 416 515 7879
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