Mayoral candidate and supporters beat up radio presenter during live broadcast

Reporters Without Borders voiced shock today at the action of a mayoral candidate and dozens of his supporters yesterday in bursting into the studios of radio La Divertida in Tulancingo (in the central province of Hidalgo) and beating up Jorge Zamacona Ramírez as he was presenting a programme going out live. “It is unacceptable that there is such a degree of impunity for press freedom violations that a candidate for the post of mayor thinks it is safe for him to openly assault a journalist on the air for referring to alleged irregularities in his party,” the organisation said, demanding a serious investigation into the case. The attack was led by Ricardo Bravo, the candidate of the opposition Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), who was accompanied by about 60 supporters while another 40 waited outside, Zamacona said. Bravo reportedly told Zamacona, “you will not get out of here alive.” The PRD supporters then allegedly beat him up, leaving him seriously injured. Zamacona said the attack was a reprisal for his having broadcast details of documents that were compromising for the PRD and which, in particular, related to alleged fraud and breach of trust by members of Bravo's family.