A Mexican journalist was seriously injured in the head and received a 12 cm.-long cut in the face on Sunday, June 19, in the southern state of Chiapas, reported El Economista. Another reporter was mentioned as a possible suspect responsible for the attack.
Jacobo Elnecavé Luttmann, of the Chiapas state government radio and television channel, and social communication director for the Autonomous University of Chiapas, was attacked in a club in Tuxtla Gutiérrez by a group that was yelling at him not to mess with a certain family, and that the beating was "for Isaín," according to Periodistasenlinea.
Luttman, who also previously worked as amedia adviser for the Chiapas governor, told prosecutors that his handling of information and opinions has resulted in a frictious relationship with reporter Isaín Mandujano, who has been critical of the current state government, reported Milenio. Luttman also called him "intolerant."
Luttman was taken to Mexico City because of the seriousness of his wounds, while the state prosecutor has begun an investigation, according to Provincia. The digital newspaper Arsenal said Luttman had received anonymous threats at the end of May that were attributed to sympathizers of the previous state government.
Journalist Isaían Mandujano and his colleague Ángeles Mariscal Pioquinto have reported harassment at the hands of state government officials, according to Revista Mexicana de Comunicación. La Casa de los Derechos de los Periodistas, an organization defneding journalists' rights, said that blaming Mandujano for the attack on Luttman is an indication that the two reporters should be prepared for arrest and punishment, and all journalists should be on alert for arbitrary arrest and judicial harassment, reported Kiosko Mayor.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
