Zeta has been taking heat from both directions during the past month, the Knight Center for Journalism covers the story in two reports:
1. Drug Cartel Orders Attack Against Mexican Weekly Zeta, According To Local Authorities
by, Teresa Mioli - links within the article
JOURNALISM IN THE AMERICAS Blog Home › Journalism in the Americas
Drug cartel orders attack against Mexican weekly Zeta, according to local authorities
By Teresa Mioli
"Authorities informed Mexican weekly Zeta that a criminal group has ordered an attack on the publication after it published photos of alleged organized crime members on the cover of its Nov. 25 issue, according to Zeta.
Zeta reported on Nov. 28 that the Baja California Security Coordination Group informed them of the threat from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG for its acronym in Spanish).
The cover in question showed the photos of ten men accompanied with the headline, “The Most Wanted of the CJNG in BC [Baja California].”
Zeta said that a majority, but not all, were members of the CJNG. Zeta said state intelligence discovered that a man who appeared on the cover ordered that the offices of Zeta be shot on Nov. 27, when no one was around, to serve as a warning. The man, identified as Israel Alejandro Vázquez Vázquez, was apparently bothered that authorities gave his and other photos to Zeta, which subsequently published them, the weekly reported.
The attack was not carried out and possibly postponed, according to Zeta.
“Those of us who work at Zeta maintain our commitment to journalism of investigation, contestation and denunciation about people from Government, institutions or crime, who seek to maintain impunity to attack society in which we work,” read the article from Zeta.
Following the reported threats, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) called on authorities to protect Zeta staff members.
"Since its launch in 1980, Zeta has been a model of independent journalism in the fight against drug trafficking in Mexico," an IAPA press release said.
Recently, co-director of Zeta, Adela Navarro Bello, denounced an alleged plan by state authorities to carry out a smear campaign against her. In a Nov. 4 editorial, Navarro claimed to have received information about the campaign to publish “disgraces” about her private life.
Zeta is one of the boldest publications in Mexico. Its slogan is “Free as the wind.” It has suffered several grave attacks throughout the years with suspects in both government and organized crime. Co-director and co-founder Héctor Félix Miranda was killed in 1988. Co-founder Jesús Blancornelas survived an assassination attempt in 1997 that ultimately killed his bodyguard. And editor Francisco Javier Ortiz was murdered in 2004.
Posted at 2016-11-29 17:00"
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2. California, Zeta Magazine Reports Alleged Smear Campaign Against Journalists by authorities in Baja Mexico
by, Silvia Higuera - links within the article
" Zeta magazine reports alleged smear campaign against journalists by authorities in Baja California, Mexico By Silvia Higuera/TM Adela Navarro Bello, co-director of Mexican weekly Zeta, which is based in the state of Baja California, denounced an alleged plan by state authorities to carry out a smear campaign against her.
In an editorial on Nov. 4, “Investigative journalism vs. smear campaigns,” Navarro Bello claimed to have received information from different people and by different means about this alleged smear campaign against her that was rumored to be led by the state governor, Francisco Vega de Lamadrid. She added that it was mentioned in some cases that the campaign included journalist Dora Elena Cortés Juarez of Agencia Fronteriza de Noticias (AFN).
According to Navarro Bello, the campaign would publish “disgraces” about her private life. The alleged existence of a campaign was also reported in other newspapers such as El Mexicano, El Informador, site AFN Noticias, Radio Enciso and social networks, she added.
" Periodismo de investigación vs campañas negrashttps://t.co/TN8jKp7lVB pic.twitter.com/R2eb3zxpOL — Semanario ZETA (@ZETATijuana) November 4, 2016
Navarro Bello also said that journalists in the state have been victims of defamation for three years, starting when the current governor began his term. “It could be a coincidence or a premeditated act, but this has happened,” she wrote.
“If the issue that concerns them is journalistic, we are at their service, publicly in the same place where this journalistic project started 36 years ago. We do not hide nor turn to anonymity. We are responsible, we use bylines, we support what has been published here by a team of editors, reporters and photographers,” she wrote in the editorial.
She also said that they are available to receive information and clarification and are even willing to hear if they want a right to reply, although she said the authorities always refuse to give statements to the media outlet.
According to the director, the reasons for this campaign could be the publications that the weekly has done about the mismanagement of government administration and irregular behavior denounced by the Secretary of Economy Development, among other articles.
Finally, she assured that they will continue with their work as they have faced other types of obstacles in the past as well: they have been threatened by drug traffickers, and have been pressured by politicians and other leaders.
“To those who, from anonymity, with public resources and government infrastructure, try to pressure in order to stop the publication of irregularities, we tell them that we at ZETA will continue, beyond threats, doing investigative journalism, responding to citizen reports, close to society and far from the government,” the editorial concluded.
In a Nov. 5 article, Zeta also said that at an event organized by the governor, he refused to answer questions about this alleged defamation campaign.
In a press release, the State Commission of Human Rights of Baja California (CEDHBC for its acronym in Spanish) announced that it has opened a file “to investigate possible violations of human rights of journalists of the entity,” after this campaign was reported in different media outlets.
“We contacted the journalists who have been the target of this threat against their rights to freely exercise their profession,” said the head of the state’s human rights commision, Melba Adriana Olvera, according to the release. “The intention is for journalists in our state to keep in mind that they have the backing of the CEDHBC and to prove that some government authorities threaten fundamental rights, we will raise our voice.”
The Commission added that it would remain vigilant of these cases, although it did not specifically refer to any media outlet.
Posted at 2016-11-07 17:10 "
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MORE AGENCIES COVER THE ZETA HARASSMENT:
" The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) calls for the protection of ZETA "
By, Carlos Alvarez
Thursday, December 1, 2016 4:38 PM
The Committee for the Protection of Journalists (CPJ), an independent, non-profit organization based in New York and founded in 1981, urged the authorities to ensure the safety of journalists working in the weekly Zeta in Tijuana, Baja California, after the threat of an alleged member Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
ZETA, CPJ said through a statement, "is one of the few newspapers that regularly publishes research on organized crime, drug trafficking and corruption in Mexico's northern states. The cost Zeta has paid for his crime coverage has been very high [...] ".
Also the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, of the University of Texas at Austin, gave its support to the weekly Zeta, and their workers, and published on its official blog an extended review of the case.
"ZETA is one of the boldest publications Mexico. Its slogan is 'free as the wind'. Over the years it has suffered several serious attacks that have had both government and organized crime as suspects. Co-director and co-founder Héctor Félix Miranda was assassinated in 1988. Co-founder Jesús Blancornelas survived an attempted homicide in 1997 that ended up killing his bodyguard. And publisher Francisco Javier Ortiz was killed in 2004, "the Knight Center said.
According to state authorities, the alleged narco-trafficker was annoyed after last Friday, November 25, 2016, were published in the 2226 edition of the weekly, unpublished photographs of those indicated by the authorities of Baja California as "most wanted", And who, according to the report, are presumed to be charged with several homicides.
Similarly, via the social network Twitter, the international non-governmental organization of French origin Reporters Without Borders, whose objective is to defend freedom of the press in the world and, in particular, journalists persecuted for their professional activity. RSF requested that the threats be investigated and also demanded to ensure the safety of ZETA workers and facilities.
For its part, Article 19 - an independent human rights organization working around the world to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression - noted that "the continuing intention of criminal groups and members of the State government to attack the ZETA weekly, which is intended to inhibit the free flow of information published by this means of communication. "
Through a statement, the non-profit organization demanded that the authorities of the Government of the State of Baja California investigate "aggressively and promptly" the reported assaults against communicators and communicators of the entity. "
The competent authorities of that State are also required to guarantee the safety of all members of the ZETA weekly, especially in the contexts in which it is currently being carried out, since attempts have been made in various ways to intimidate the members of this weekly In order to stop publishing information of general interest for society ", he said.
Also, the international organization demanded that the Government of the State of Baja California implement the necessary mechanisms to prevent any aggression against state journalists.
"Lastly, Article 19 deeply regrets the multiple attempts to aggression against the ZETA weekly and urges the authorities to prevent these identified threats from being consummated in any way, and at all times to ensure the free flow of information of all kinds in the State. ", the statement said.
The director of the weekly ZETA, Adela Navarro Bello, said that according to investigations by intelligence personnel from the state of Baja California, it was possible to predict the intention to attack the facilities of the environment, however, this situation did not materialize because "There were no people to carry out the attack."
According to the journalist "the plans were to shoot the premises of the weekly the dawn of Sunday 27 of November when there were no employees", but this situation did not materialize. He also noted that "The state's Public Security Secretariat sent three units of state preventive police from Sunday to Monday, however today [Tuesday] there is only one unit."
The Fifth Vice-Presidency of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) issued recommendations CNDH / QVG / 991/2016 and CNDH / QVG / 991/2016, addressed to the Government of Baja California and the Attorney General's Office ), to implement precautionary measures, and that they be guaranteed safety to people who work in the weekly Zeta, as "at risk their lives."
In the same vein the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), which requested the municipal authorities state, and the Mexican Federal Government, with "firmness and urgency" adopt protective measures for staff weekly ruled ZETA .
"Since its founding in 1980 ZETA has been a benchmark of independent journalism in the fight against drug trafficking in the country , " said IAPA said in a statement.
Recently, Zeta's co-director, Adela Navarro Bello, denounced an alleged smear campaign against her led by local authorities. In the November 4 editorial, Navarro claimed to have received information about the campaign to publish "infamies" about her private life.
THE NARCO THREAT
The media reported threats from drug traffickers in retaliation for a report on their print edition 2226, about their criminal activities. On 25 November, ZETA included information and 10 photos on the cover of members of the organized crime, mostly members of the CJNG, who are investigated for various crimes.
48 hours later, the Baja California Security Coordination Group warned ZETA management that one of the drug traffickers, Israel Alejandro Vazquez Vázquez, alias "El 50", would have ordered to shoot the dawn of Sunday, November 27, the offices of the Weekly, annoyed by the publication of his unpublished image, and that of other members of the band. However, it was learned that the attack was postponed.
In the criminal organization chart held by the State Security Council of Baja California, Israel Alejandro Vázquez Vázquez "El 50" and / or "El Goofy" is classified as "a subject of great danger" and "armed arm" of Juan José Pérez Vargas "El Piolín", one of the ringleaders of the Cartel Jalisco New Generation-Cartel Arellano Félix alliance in Tijuana.
WHO IS "50"?
From "El 50" refer in the Security Council of Baja California: "this person is attributed a large amount of homicides in the city." They also clarified that the young man does not yet have arrest warrants against him, but that they investigate him and his name appears in several files as alleged responsible for homicides.
Since the beginning of the year Vázquez was identified as a murderer of the Jalisco Cartel in Tijuana, at that time he was considered the right arm of the chief of assassins Arturo Gómez Herrera "El Gross", shot dead at a hair salon in Guadalajara, Jalisco, on October 27 .
In addition, state investigators have identified that Vázquez Vázquez leads a cell that at least has four members, whom they have identified for the moment as: Luis David Figueroa "El Snok", Rifat Abdul Castillo Haro "El Rifat", Francisco Javier Gómez Hernández "El Panchito" and Erick Ramírez Hernández "El Burger".
ZETA
El Comite para la Protecion de los Periodistas (CPJ) pide proteger a ZETA
por, Carlos Alvarez
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More solidarity !
Javier Sicilia, Anabel Hernandez and the founder of Rio Doce Javier Valdez speak out in support of Zeta Magazine:
"Protejan al Semanario ZETA" Javier Sicilia a las tres ordenes de gobierno
por, Enrique Mendoza Hernandez
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The November Execution Totals for Tijuana from Zeta: 92
"November, the Most Violent Month of 2016 in Tijuana: 92 Murders "
According to figures from the State Attorney General's Office, in November, 92 murders were reported in Tijuana to raise the statistics to 801 fatalities. With these figures, the month just concluded is considered the most violent in 2016.
The last bloody events in the city date from Wednesday 30 November. In the colony Villas del Prado, the corpse of a man between 30 and 35 years old was found in the public thoroughfare. He had injuries from blunt blows to different parts of his body and head.
Similarly, with a fatal gunshot wound, the corpse of a man between 35 and 40 years old was located in Avenida Flores Magón, Colonia Granjas La Esperanza.
Also on Wednesday they reported that in the Hotel Jacuzzi Jose Sandoval colony in room 211- - specifically, a person of the male, about 30 years old, was found with a piece of cloth around his neck. In another incident, an individual identified as Daniel Alberto Ramírez López, 23, died after an armed attack occurred on the corner of Voluntad street with Valentía in the colony Valle Verde. Another man, César Manuel Morales Aldán, 27, was injured.
On Tuesday 29 was killed who in life responded to the name of Fausto Valenzuela Villegas "El Pipo." His body was on the street Mutualismo in the North Zone of Tijuana.
On Monday 28, in a vacant lot, the corpse of Omar Jesús Rodríguez Trosino, 29, was located. He had blunt injuries and was tied hands. The events were registered in Nogal and Romero Street, Colonia La Morita Second Section.
With a blow to the head, apparently tipped with a stone, a man of about 35 years was finished. The incident took place in the channeling of the Tijuana River, at Guadalupe Victoria and Diaz Ordaz streets.
Also that day a subject identified as Valentín Santos Torres, 43, was killed inside a management agency in the East America fractionation. He had sharps injuries.
Leonel Pérez Galván, aged 20, was shot in the abdomen in Privada Parota de Colinas de La Presa. He was still transferred to IMSS Clinic 1, where he later died.
On Sunday 27, inside a coffee colored compact car firm Nissan, the body of a male hamstrung and injuries on the body was found. The unit was located in the Guanajuato alley of the Mexico Lindo colony.
While on the road Tecate-Ensenada, at the height of kilometer 46, between asphalt hills and tires, was found the carbonized body of a person.
On the same day, on the Boulevard 2000 - at Kilometer 5, the body of a charred man lay inside a pickup truck with no visible plates or series.
Also reported was the corpse of a man between 30 and 35 years old, with a thorax injury, in Callejón Valentín Gómez Farías, corner road to Playas de Tijuana.
The morning of that Sunday, Daniel Zaldivar Alejandro Castellanos, 23, was shot dead inside the bar El Circo, located on Sixth Street in the downtown area.
And on Friday, November 25, Karla Guadalupe Torres Meza, a 17-year-old student of the fifth semester of the CECYTE El Niño campus, was murdered at her home in the Colonia Villas del Campo."
Noviembre, el mes mas violento de 2016 en Tijuana: 92 asesinatos
por, Patricia Tamayo
Note: Rosarito Beach, Ensenada, Tecate and Mexicali figures not included.
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Edit: 12/04: More bad news also coming in, the wonderful El Rey Sol Restaurant in Ensenada was shot at, details coming up. Noted that so far only Frontera and Ensenada.net reporting this.... (Ensenada.net does not mention the name of the restaurant) . No report yet from El Mexicano. A security guard was wounded by gunfire after telling people involved in a fight they would have to leave... then the shooter returns and fires at the front door of El Rey Sol.
We should all keep our eyes peeled for the Monday the 5th events of the DAPL protests where 2,000 Vets are on their way to support the Tribes. This is going to be or could be a stand off. Check the truthdig and other links on the sidebar for daily coverage.
Edit: 12/04: FM's are done now I'm making a pot roast. CBS reporting 300 hundred Vets at Standing Rock, Truthdig reporting 2 to 3 thousand Vets on the scene. I believe Truth Dig. The Hill reports a sudden shift - like magic (or could it be because of the presence of the thousands of Vets who were planning to act as a human shields to protect the protesters/water protectors from more outrageous attacks by the militia) construction will completely stop ! Here is the news from the DAPL Live Blog. Here is the Hill's report with audio, will come back to this subject tomorrow: Feds Deny Permit for Dakota Access Pipeline.
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- Jan Hasselman represented the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in their lawsuit, just received this email:
Earthjustice
" Dear Marjorie,
Today is a historic day both for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and for indigenous people everywhere.
Thanks in part to the pressure from people like you, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it would not be granting an easement under Lake Oahe for the Dakota Access pipeline to cross the Missouri River, just a half mile upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe reservation.
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman, Dave Archambault II said in a statement, “We wholeheartedly support the decision of the administration and commend with the utmost gratitude the courage it took on the part of President Obama, the Army Corps, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior to take steps to correct the course of history and to do the right thing.
With this decision we look forward to being able to return home and spend the winter with our families and loved ones, many of whom have sacrificed as well. We look forward to celebrating in wopila, in thanks, in the coming days.”
This is a huge victory and it would not have been possible without your continued support. Earlier this year our team of legal experts worked with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to file a lawsuit against the Corps.
Since then we have been fighting tooth and nail to stop this pipeline. The fact of the matter is, this pipeline never should have been routed near these sacred lands in the first place and it certainly never should have received permits without a thorough and meaningful discussion of potential risks with the affected Indian Tribes.
Today’s announcement that a full environmental impact statement will be prepared is a step in the right direction. It sets in motion a new round of public involvement that will have to take place before the final portion of the pipeline can be completed.
As we continue forward I know we can count on you to speak out and make sure your voice is heard.
Thank you,
Jan Hasselman
Staff Attorney "
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