Missing Journalist in Zacatecas, Feared Kidnapped

Borderland Beat

One Week Missing:

The Parents of Zoila Edith Chiu, who disappeared last Saturday in Zacatecas, indicated that the president said would redouble efforts to locate his daughter. 

"There is no report, no evidence or witnesses in the case, the problem is that many days have passed and no answer," he said.

They explained that the street where she lives is made up of businesses, so it was considered that in that area possibly there could be witnesses, however they regretted that neither has there been witnesses or evidence of it.

The parents of the journalist  Zoila Edith Márquez Chiu, originally from Zacatecas and who disappeared on Saturday December 7, when she went to return a video to a store, reported the commitment of President Enrique Peña Nieto to redouble efforts to locate his daughter.

Secretary of Human Rights, Lia Limon Garcia brought the matter of the missing Zacatecas journalist to EPN's attention, asking for help from the journalist's parents. in Mexico City through a statement, the family reported that after seeking the help of Peña Nieto, they were called and attended meeting at the Ministry of the Interior (Interior Ministry). The family was informed that "the government of Mexico and specifically President Enrique Peña Nieto, is committed not only to redouble efforts, resources and specialized in kidnapping staff but to locate and return expeditiously our beloved daughter. "

It was also reported that the governor of Zacatecas , Miguel Alonso Reyes, in a coordinated with the Interior Ministry,Federal Police, the Attorney General of the Republic to locate the whereabouts of the reporter.

Task Force to find Zoila Edith Márquez Chiu:  Zacatecas, the state government announced a Local Coordination Group has joined forces devoted unanimously to solving the disappearance of journalist Zoila Marquez Chiu and even, the staff of the Federal Police of eight entities of the republic is available to search for the young journalist/mother of two..

Information on the work of this panel came about in a statement after Ivan Pastor, husband of journalist, revealed that there was only an investigation by the authorities in terms of finding his journalist wife. He even said that he received pressure by the ministerial police trying to frame him.

This task force, which met Thursday night,  emphasizes that state and federal authorities are consolidating actions to find Marquez Chiu. The first meeting was made possible with resources from Rodolfo Saab Automobile, Regional Coordinator West Federal Police (PF), who offered the support staff of eight institutions free of charge charge to join the search for Zoila Marquez Chiu.  This was reported by Arturo Nahle García, General Attorney of Justice the state, who said that so far all the information has the support from family and friends since knowledge of the disappearance is all that has been addressed.  Meanwhile, Jorge Alberto Pinto Perez, executive secretary of the State System of Public Security revealed that already did a search on the surveillance cameras of the state capital. 

Sergio Martínez Escamilla (PGR) and Héctor Sánchez Moreno, Commissioner of PF in Zacatecas affirmed they have offered all the technical support available for this investigation

Original Story-Missing Journalist

MEXICO CITY - Organizations of defenders of freedom of expression warned about the disappearance of the reporter for Agency TV Hotline (Lineainformativa.com), Zoila Edith Márquez Chiu, whose whereabouts are unknown since Saturday December 7.

Article 19 and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported in separate statements of the disappearance of Márquez Chiu, who was last seen midday on Saturday the 7 in zacatecana capital. 

The organizations demanded local authorities,and eventually federal authorities take into account the practice of journalism as the line of investigation.

Article 19 called for the intervention of the Special Prosecutor for  (FEADLE) the Investigating of Crimes against Freedom of Expression, which depends on the Attorney General's Office (PGR), while RSF noted that the Zoila Edith case should be added to the Sergio Landa Rosado of Diario Cardel, whom nothing is known about him since January 22, and Gerardo Blanquet, of Radio Grande of Coahuila, whose whereabouts remain unknown since April 30.

RSF, an organization based in Paris, France, said that in the past 10 years, 18 journalists remain missing, one woman María Esther Aguilar Cansimbe, of Diario Cambio de Michoacan, disappeared on November 11, 2009.

"None of these cases have been solved, in which, by their nature, could involve corrupt police officers," said RSF.

“We hope enough resources will be deployed to find Márquez safe and sound as soon as possible,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The authorities must respond to her family’s appeal. There is so far no proof that she has been kidnapped but the police should investigate the possibility that her disappearance is linked to her work.”

       

"Even thought there is no direct indication that it is a kidnapping, December 7 being the last time the journalist was witnessed driving her car, RSF called for appropriate actions be undertaken by the authorities "as soon as possible to find the reporter safe and sound "an appropriate investigation is one that takes into account the professional activity of Márquez Chiu as an online investigator.."

Article 19, based in London, England, explained Zoila Edith was acting as a reporter and was the also the editor of Hotline, providing area coverage of general information and surveys of citizens. One  of the last topics she covered was the student strike at the Normal School of Zacatecas.

Lineainformativa, director Omar Hernández Herrera, gave the information that prior to her disappearance, the journalist, had not received any threats or in an incident that would jeopardize her integrity, a situation that also has occurred with the local media.

"The journalist had been working the weekend before her disappearance on a report on the conflict in the mining town of Loreto, explained her boss,Omar Hernandez."  He does not believe that the fact has to do with the type of information that was assigned to Zoila Edith.

According to information gathered by Article 19, the last person who had contact with Zoila Edith Márquez Chiu, was with her husband, Ivan Pastor,  a broadcast employee at television NTR Zacatecas. Ivan Pastor is also the brother of the local PRI deputy Pastor Héctor Alvarado.

Article 19 called Zacatecas state authorities, as well as the FEADLE and PGR to investigate the disappearance of journalist Zoila Edith Márquez, and not to discard it as part of her work," the organization said in its statement.

Recalling that the disappearance "effects the fundamental rights of individuals, including economic and social issues" Article 19 urged authorities to "take all measures necessary protection and investigation in this case."

Details (Cont.)

According to La Jornada online, four people took Chiu Marquez on Saturday afternoon, as she drove her vehicle-a silver Pointer plates ZHL 9684 - by Ave San Marcos, apparently bound for a video rental store to to deliver a rented movie.

Witnesses reported to the newspaper that two men and two women in a black SUV Ecosport blocked the journalist's way at the intersection Minera and Las Palmas in the capital of the state, and forced her into the vehicle, after which it fled in an unknown direction.

The Zacatecas prosecutor, Arturo Nahle García  confirmed the unfortunate disappearance of the journalist. He is concerned but has dismissed it as a kidnapping because her family has not received calls for any ransom. He did reject the version of an armed group blocking her car.

The prosecutor told local media Zoila's husband reported her missing to the States Attorney, so  investigations are being carried out.

Family, friends and colleagues of the mother of two young children have mobilized social networks to spread the word with signs photographs, asking for support from the authorities for her search and localization.
       
Through Twitter and Facebook have reproduced photographs of the journalist and the vehicle she was driving at the time of her disappearance.

The latest word is Mexican authorities have launched a joint operation involving police, police prosecutors and members of the Army to search for journalist  Zoila Edith Chiu. The search was ordered by the governor of Zacatecas Miguel Alonso Reyes.The surrounding states of Aguascalientes, San Luis Potosi, Coahuila and Durango were alerted as well.

Hashtags on Twitter: 
Zoila Edith Márquez Chiu

Zacatecas

periodistas de Zacatecas

Sources:Proceso, excelsior, aristeguinoticias, List of Journalists killed in Mexico, 7diasdiario, AccesoZac, Diario, Universal

Categories: Kidnapped, Lineainformativa.com, Missing Journalist, Zacatecas, Zoila Edith Márquez Chiu