José Manuel Nava Sánchez

José Manuel Nava Sánchez (ca. 1953 – November 16, 2006) was a veteran journalist and editor for the Excélsior newspaper, and columnist for the national daily El Sol de México. He was stabbed to death at his home in Mexico City in 2006.^[1][2]

Career

José Manuel Nava Sánchez began his work in journalism at Notimex and as a reporter for Mexico City-based daily Excélsior newspaper in 1976. He was its correspondent for the next 16 years. From 1982, Nava was its Washington correspondent until he took over as editor of Excélsior from February 21, 2004 until December 2005. In September 2006, Nava began writing the daily column "Nuevo Poder" (Translated: New Power) for El Sol de México with a focus on political and social analysis.^[1][3][4]

He has written several investigative books and was a contributing columnist for El Sol de Mexico.^[5] His last book was called Excélsior, el Asalto Final (Translated: "Excelsior, The Final Round,")^[5] which he published on November 6. In his book, Nava criticized government officials, Excélsior employees, and business people for their roles in the demise of Excélsior as a cooperative.^[6] He was killed 10 days later.

Death

Mexico City

He was killed in the capital of Mexico City.

On 16 November 2006, the body of José Manuel Nava Sánchez was found at his apartment in Mexico City. He had apparently been stabbed to death. It has been reported that some belongings were missing, his personal computer among them.^[7]

Context

In the month of November, three journalists were murdered, bringing the total number of in 2006 to seven. According to Reporters Without Borders]], this makes Mexico the second most dangerous country for journalists in the world beaten only by Iraq.^[8]

In one incident, Roberto Marcos García was knocked off his motorcycle and gunned down on the Veracruz to Alvarado highway in Veracruz State close to the township of La Matosa in Alvarado County. Garcia had been reporting for thirteen years on violent crime and drug-trafficking in Veracruz and his last article, published in Testimonio a week before he died, had been an investigation into the activities of a gang of thieves working in the port of Veracruz. Garcia's murder came just five days after José Manuel Nava Sánchez.^[8]

Impact

The murders and disappearances of journalists have taken place within a context of impunity where little effort has been made to investigate theses crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice, creating an atmosphere of fear that inhibits journalists from carrying out their jobs to the best of their abilities. For these reasons, IAPA has asked Felipe Calderon to bring an end to this impunity and to ensure that all crimes against journalists are thoroughly investigated. Human Rights House:^[8]

Reactions

Mexico City authorities conducting an investigation into the murder said that they have not been able to determine a motive and do not have suspects in custody, according to the local press.

Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said, "We are shocked by the killing of our colleague, the fifth journalist murdered this year in Mexico. We urge Mexican authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into Nava's death." CPJ has confirmed that one of the five journalists killed this year was slain in connection with his reporting. It continues to investigate the killings of the four deaths.^[9]

See also

• List of journalists killed in Mexico

References

External links

• Annual Report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights 2006
• The Journalists Memorial