Guerrero state newspaper target of attack

In a letter to Interior Minister Santiago Creel Miranda and Guerrero state (southern Mexico) Governor René Juárez Cisneros, RSF expressed its deep concern over the attack on the offices of the newspaper "Despertar de la Costa". "We ask you to carry out an in-depth investigation so that this action is not left unpunished," stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. The organisation also asked the interior minister to use all means at his disposal to ensure that the newspaper is protected. According to information collected by RSF, on 31 December 2001, two men attempted to set fire to the offices of the newspaper "Despertar de la Costa", published in the city of San Jeronimito (Guerrero state, southern Mexico). The two unknown individuals threw flaming objects inside the newspaper's offices, causing minor damage. Recently, a number of articles had been published in the newspaper on alleged acts of harassment by the military, the police force's possible role in drug trafficking and the investigations that are continuing in the case of Digna Ochoa, a lawyer and human rights defender assassinated in October.