User:Nameyer1/Benjamín Flores González
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Benjamín Flores González | |
|---|---|
| Born | ca. 1968 |
| Died | 15 July, 1997 San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico |
| Cause of death | Murder |
| Nationality | Mexico |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, editor and publisher |
| Years active | 1989-1997 |
| Employer | La Prensa |
| Known for | Reporting on the drug-trafficking along the Mexican-American border |
| Title | Editor, CEO of La Prensa |
Benjamín Flores González (ca. 1968 – 15 July 1997), 29, a Mexican journalist and editor for the La Prensa in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico. He reported accusations about cartels and government officials involved in drug-trafficking along the Mexican-American border. He was shot dead outside of his newspaper office building after receiving threats from drug lords.
Personal[edit]
Benjamín Flores was a native of San Luis Rio Colorado.[1] While he initially started off as waiter and hot dog vendor, he moved on to be the private secretary for the governor, and from there started his own newspaper in 1989.[2] His newspaper was known for reporting on crime and his sister Ofelia referred to him as a "Robin Hood".[2]
Career[edit]
Flores was a journalist, editor, and owner of La Prensa.[3] He wrote a column called "No Confirmado", which translates as "Not Confirmed". In his column, he named politicians and other corrupt members of the government who were dealing with the drug traffickers.[3] His style of aggressive reporting about drug crimes was influential for other journalists.[3] He is known for a report he published about the "disappearance" of half a ton of cocaine that was in police custody and tied the governor to the event.[2] Because of his reporting he developed many enemies and received threats on multiple occasions. Mauricio Manzo, a reporter from Mexicali, Baja California, said, "Everyone told Benjamin that he would be killed, and he was the first to acknowledge it."[1]
Death[edit]
As Flores was walking up the steps to La Prensa, he was shot nine times with an AK-47 and three times with a .22-caliber pistol in the head.[1][4] The police later arrested Rolando Arroyo Palacios and traced the orders back to the drug lord Jaime Gonzalez Gutierrez, known as "El Jaimillo". Flores had contributed to Gutiérrez's arrest by publishing information about him.[1][2][3] Gutiérrez had Flores' brothers killed in revenge.[citation needed]
Context[edit]
Impact[edit]
Many[who?] feared that this demonstration of instability would scare off foreign companies that would bring their factors to the industrious city.[1] At the time of Flores's death, there were 29 foreign factories along the border, which provided a large amount of the legitimate revenue in the city.[1] However, the same qualities that enticed business to set up shop at San Luis Rio Colorado also brought drug traffickers.[5]
Reactions[edit]
People, especially journalists, feared for their safety and started questioning whether the government could protect them or not. Journalists were afraid that they might become next.[4]
See also[edit]
List of journalists killed in Mexico
Citations found[edit]
- Orlando Sentinel[6]
- Las Vegas Sun[7]
- La policiaca[8]
- El Universal[9]
- Zeta[10]
- Impunidad[11]
- Libertad Expression[12]
- Amnesty[13]
- CPJ[14]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f Hartman, Pamela (July 19, 1997). "Mafia grips slain journalist's town". Tuscon Citizen. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
- ^ a b c d Xanic, Alejandra (July 10, 2000). "¿Quién fue?:". Sociedad Interamericana de Prensa. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
- ^ a b c d "Benjamín Flores, 15 años de impunidad". periodistas.org. July 16, 2012. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
- ^ a b "A Blow To Mexican Journalism". LA Times. July 18, 1997. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
tuscon citizen"was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "4 Men Jailed After Murder Of Journalist In Mexico". tribunedigital-orlandosentinel.
- ^ Howard LaFranchi. "Drug Trade's Serpentine Path". LasVegasSun.com.
- ^ "Atraparon ayer a "El Jaimillo"". La Policiaca - La Nota Roja De Mexico.
- ^ "Libre, asesino de periodista en Sonora". eluniversal.com.mx. 20 June 2013.
- ^ Orozco Mora, Germán (July 21, 2014). "Benjamín Flores González, crimen de un periodista". Zeta Tijuana.
- ^ Xanic, Alejandra (July 10, 2000). "Caso: Benjamín Flores". Proyecto Impunidad.
- ^ "CAMPAÑA PERMANENTE DE PROTECCIÓN A PERIODISTAS " Benjamín Flores, 15 años de impunidad". libertad-expresion.org.mx.
- ^ "Document - Amnesty International". amnesty.org.
- ^ "Benjamín Flores González". Committee to Protect Journalists. July 15, 1997.