Rubén Espinosa

Rubén Espinosa
Born Rubén Manuel Espinosa Becerril
November 29, 1983
Mexico City, Mexico
Died July 31, 2015
Mexico City, Mexico
Cause of death Murder from gunfire
Resting place Panteón De Dolores, Mexico
Nationality Mexican
Occupation Photojournalist
Employer AVC News agency, Proceso and Cuartoscuro magazines
Known for Social Movements

Rubén Espinosa, also known as Rubén Manuel Espinosa Becerril (29 November 1983 – 31 July 2015), was a self-taught photographer and journalist. He worked for AVC News agency and Proceso and Cuartoscuro magazines. He covered daily news and social protests.[1] He documented several protests where individuals were assaulted. Espinosa was killed in Narvate, Mexico City, Mexico along with four women.[2]

Personal

Espinosa was born in Mexico City, Mexico.[1]

Career

For the majority of his career, Espinosa concentrated on social movements and protests. As a self-taught photographer and journalist, he began his career with Eclipse Photo in Mexico City, Mexico.[1] While with Eclipse Photo, his primary job was photography. In 2009, he was hired by Javier Durate during his campaign as governor.[3] Espinosa also worked in Xalapa, Mexico for seven years. Xalapa is considered one of the most dangerous place to practice journalism.[4] Espinosa's interest in social movements led him find employment elsewhere. In Veracruz, Espinosa became a correspondent for Proceso and Cuartoscuro magazines. During his employment with the magazine, Espinosa voiced his opinion regarding the treatment journalists in Mexico.[5]

Death

Mexico City
Rubén Espinosa was killed in Mexico City, Mexico.

Before his death, Espinosa had received deadly threats. Espinosa began to receive threats towards him after the release of a photo of Durate. During a social protest Espinosa was grabbed and told to quit taking photos or else he would end up like other dead journalists.[6] Espinosa had also previously reported men standing outside his house and giving him intimidating glares and gestures. In June 2015, Espinosa decided to leave Veracruz and return to Mexico City.[7] He reported experiencing symptoms of PTSD.[8][9] Espinosa left his friends and even his dog Cosmos in Veracruz to find safety in Mexico City, which was a known refuge for journalists.[10]

Espinosa was found dead on 31 July 2015 with four female victims.[11][12] All five were found beaten and shot execution style.[13] The victims also had various signs of torture on their bodies.[14] The women who were found had all been sexually assaulted by the culprits.[15] The names of the women were not released at the time until days later.[16][17] The authorities believe that deaths occurred between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. A final text message was placed by Espinosa at 2:13 p.m.[18][19]

Investigation

Video surveillance caught three suspects walking out of the apartment. One of the suspects took the car of a victim and drove off with it. The car was later found abandoned on the outskirts of Mexico City.[20] The case was viewed as a burglary due to the various objects taken from the residence.[9] In August 2015, an unnamed serial rapist was arrested for the deaths of the victims. His fingerprints matched up to the evidence found in the apartment. There is still an ongoing investigation for the other two suspects caught on the surveillance video.[15] The police department in charge of the investigation do have fifteen statements as well as evidence and photographs.[21]

Context

Espinosa had reported threats being made towards him before his death. Espinosa had previously had several run ins with the law while covering several social movements.[22] In 2012, Espinosa covered a student protest against Governor Javier Duarte during the anniversary of the revolution.[23] During the protest Espinosa was grabbed and the man stated "Stop taking pictures if you don't want to end up like Regina".[24] Regina Martinez Perez, was also a correspondent for Proceso and Cuartoscuro magazines.[25] She had recently been killed after reporting on state official.[26] Espinosa released a photograph of Govenor Javier Duarte. The photograph showed Governor Duarte wearing a police cap and his stomach hanging over and below his belt. Espinosa received multiple threats after the release of the photograph.[27] The governor was outraged by the photograph and article. He sent people to find and buy out all the prints released in various locations.[28] Espinosa decided to flee Veracruz and find refugee in Mexico City, Mexico. His decision was made after seeing men standing outside of his house three separate times. He had reported that the men were giving him intimidating glances and gestures.[23] On 31 July 2015 Espinosa was found alongside four other women. The women were identified as Nadia Vera, Yesenia Quiroz, Mile Virginia Martin, and Alejandra Negrete.[8][29][30][31] His and the bodies of the women were all found killed execution style.[6] Mile Virginia Marin was the last of the victims to be identified due to having a Colombian origin.[32] Espinosa is the seventh journalist that has been killed in Mexico in the year 2015.[33] Since 2011 under Javier Duarte's govern of Mexico 15 journalist have been killed.[34] Regina Martinez Pérez, Miguel Angel Lopez Velasco, Yolanda Ordaz de la Cruz, and the other journalist who have been murdered all have one similar thing. All their murders have had no responsible culprit punished.[35] Regina Martinez Pérez worked alongside Espinosa in the past and was murdered on 28 April 2012.[36] According to Reporters without Borders, In 2014 Mexico was the named the 6th country in the world with high rates of journalist being killed. After the death of Espinosa protesters gathered holding cameras and signs that stated "not one more".[19] The protesters also held signs stating "How many more Javier Duarte?".[37] During his funeral journalist traveled to be present. They covered his grave with cameras.[38] State and Legislative committees deal with the complaints made by reporters who has been attacked, harassed, or abused. However, nothing is ever resolved through the offices.[39]

Impact

According to Article 19, Espinosa is the 88th journalist that has been killed in Mexico.[40] Espinosa decided to flee to Mexico City in seek of refugee. Until his death Mexico City was seen as a refugee for journalist who were being threatened.[40] Citizens have become angry and disheartened at the lack of safety and protection Governor Duarte has provided for journalist.[41][42] As a self taught journalist and photographer, Espinosa was motivated and felt strongly about journalist rights in Mexico.[43] However, after reporting and photographing several brutal attacks and protests Espinosa began to be a target of threats.[44] After his death Mexico City was no longer a place safe for journalist seeking refugee.[1] Hundreds of journalist and photographers from around the world published a letter in PEN America asking for a clear notice of what occurred that day and who was responsible. They urged for a further investigation into his death.[45]

Reactions

A march held after the death of Rubén Espinosa.

After the death of Espinosa, several protesters have gathered in several different locations in his honor.[46][47] In Mexico City a demonstration spread a network tag #JusticiaparaRubén to continue spreading his life story as well as his troubling death.[15] A colleague of his stated "He was both a photographer and activist...But most of all he was a great friend".[6] The Office of the High Commissioner For Human Rights (OHCHR) stated after the death of Espinosa: "If the investigations confirm that this aberrant multiple homicide is related to Espinosa's work as a journalist, then we are in the presence of a grave act against freedom of expression".[29]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "¿Quiere Miguel Mancera convertirse en otro Javier Duarte? Comunicado sobre el asesinato de Rubén Espinosa (y semblanza) - Homozapping".
  2. ↑ "Asesinan en el DF a Rubén Espinosa, fotoperiodista de Proceso". Proceso. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Did a Mexican Governor Have This Journalist Killed Over an Unflattering Photo?". The Daily Beast.
  4. ↑ "La SIP condena el asesinato del periodista mexicano Rubén Espinosa". Terra. 3 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "Impunity feared in Mexico photojournalist's murder". BBC News.
  6. 1 2 3 Paul Imison. "Murder of Mexican journalist Rubén Espinosa, raises questions about censorship and corruption".
  7. ↑ "Por el miedo a que lo mataran, hasta su perro dejó en Veracruz".
  8. 1 2 "In Mexico, Hunted Down for Speaking Out". Foreign Policy In Focus.
  9. 1 2 "Gov't reaction criticized in case of Mexico slain journalist". The Big Story.
  10. ↑ "Mexico outraged over journalist Ruben Espinosa's murder". BBC News.
  11. ↑ "UNESCO Director General condemns the killing of Mexican photojournalist Ruben Espinosa - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization".
  12. ↑ "Conmoción por asesinato de periodista Rubén Espinosa en Ciudad de México". BBC Mundo.
  13. ↑ "Mexican photojournalist Rubén Espinosa found dead in capital". the Guardian.
  14. ↑ "Mexican photojournalist found dead was likely tortured, activists say". the Guardian.
  15. 1 2 3 "Police arrest serial rapist for murder of Mexican journalist Ruben Espinosa". Mail Online. 6 August 2015.
  16. ↑ Nina Lakhani. "Mexico's Ruben Espinosa case: female victims treated as afterthoughts by press". the Guardian.
  17. ↑ "10 datos clave sobre el caso de multihomicidio en la colonia Narvarte". 2 August 2015.
  18. ↑ "Mexican photojournalist Ruben Espinosa found dead". BBC News.
  19. 1 2 "¿Esta fue la última conversación del fotoperiodista Rubén Espinosa?". 8 August 2015.
  20. ↑ "Mexico seeks suspects in journalist Espinosa's murder". BBC News.
  21. ↑ "La PGJDF investiga homicidio y robo por el multiasesinato en la Narvarte".
  22. ↑ "Deeply troubled by killing of Mexican photojournalist Rubén Espinosa". CJFE - Canadian Journalists for Free Expression.
  23. 1 2 "Rubén Espinosa Becerril".
  24. ↑ Marcela Turati. "Rubén Espinosa, un fotógrafo 'incómodo' para el gobierno de Duarte - Proceso". Proceso.
  25. ↑ "Quiénes eran las cuatro mujeres asesinadas junto al periodista Rubén Espinosa en México". BBC Mundo.
  26. ↑ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg, Germany (2 August 2015). "Mexiko: Fotoreporter Rubén Espinosa getötet". SPIEGEL ONLINE.
  27. ↑ The Christian Science Monitor (3 August 2015). "Mexico City: Why didn't slain journalist Ruben Espinosa seek protection?". The Christian Science Monitor.
  28. ↑ Redacción / Sin Embargo. "LA FOTO DE RUBÉN ESPINOSA QUE ENCABRONÓ AL GOBERNADOR DE VERACRUZ". SinEmbargo MX.
  29. 1 2 Francisco Goldman (14 August 2015). "Who Killed Rubén Espinosa and Nadia Vera?". The New Yorker.
  30. ↑ Redacción / Sin Embargo. "Colombia identifica a su ciudadana asesinada en la Narvarte y exige que el crimen no quede impune". SinEmbargo MX.
  31. ↑ "Espinosa dejó Veracruz tras una agresión de encapuchados, dice Duarte". 10 August 2015.
  32. ↑ Web Financial Group, S.A. (4 August 2015). "La colombiana que murió junto al periodista mexicano Rubén Espinosa".
  33. ↑ "Huge Mexico City Rally Over Killing of Journalist". The New York Times. 3 August 2015.
  34. ↑ Ediciones El País (2 August 2015). "Rubén Espinosa: Asesinado en México un fotoperiodista que había recibido amenazas - Internacional - EL PAÍS". EL PAÍS.
  35. ↑ Roberto Vizcaíno. "ANÁLISIS A FONDO - Javier Duarte, ¿gobernador bajo sospecha?".
  36. ↑ La Redacción. "Se extiende a estados repudio por muerte de fotoperiodista". Proceso.
  37. ↑ "Rubén Espinosa (1984-2015)". Rubén Espinosa (1984-2015).
  38. ↑ Redacción / Sin Embargo. "Familiares, compañeros y amigos dan último adiós al fotoperiodista Rubén Espinosa". SinEmbargo MX.
  39. ↑ Oscar Olguin. "Morir de miedo". José Cárdenas.
  40. 1 2 "Mexican Photojournalist Found Dead In Country's Capital". NPR.org. 2 August 2015.
  41. ↑ José Gil Olmos. "Rubén Espinosa y la línea periodística". Proceso.
  42. ↑ "'Proceso' y 'Cuartoscuro' exigen investigación de amenazas a Espinosa". 3 August 2015.
  43. ↑ "Murder of journalist Ruben Espinosa in Mexico City sparks outrage". CCTV America.
  44. ↑ "Ruben Espinosa - PEN American Center".
  45. ↑ "Intelectuales y periodistas de todo el mundo exigen aclarar del asesinato del reportero Rubén Espinosa". CNNEspañol.com.
  46. ↑ Elwyn Lopez and Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN (4 August 2015). "Mexican journalist's death 'new peak' in violence". CNN.
  47. ↑ "La ONU condena el asesinato del fotoperiodista Rubén Espinosa". 3 August 2015.
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