Information on the media's coverage of the assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio, whether it was captured on video and by who, whether the video was seized by police or investigators, and any reference to television crews from TV Por Cable Nacional or Televisa being at the scene of the assassination [MEX27081.E]

Media coverage of the 23 March 1994 assassination of presidential candidate Luis Donaldo Colosio since the event has been extensive. Examples of print media reports on the investigation that followed the assassination can be found attached to Responses to Information Requests MEX27078.E, MEX27079.E and MEX27080.E of 23 July 1997, as well as in MEX26068.E of 4 February 1997.

Attached to this Response please find copies of transcripts of media reports aired or published in the immediate aftermath of the assassination. A detailed listing of the media agencies present at the scene of the assassination could not be found among the sources consulted; however, one report refers to "the various media that witnessed the incident" (Radio ACIR Network 25 Mar. 1994).

Regarding video recordings of the assassination, one of the attached reports states that the video showing the assassination was "filmed by an amateur and disseminated today by Televisa" (DPA 28 Mar. 1994). However, another report published by a journal that investigated the assassination questions the veracity of the videotaped images showing a single assassin, stating that "with regard to the discovery of a video showing the moment Aburto [the convicted assassin] places the gun near the candidate's head, consulted experts have mentioned the possibility of a photographic gimmick" (El Universal 28 Mar. 1994). This report adds that "these experts pointed to the darkness of the video and recalled that the attack took place shortly after 1700, when it was still daylight," pointing out that "they affirmed that the picture is so nebulous that a photomontage gimmick is conceivable" (ibid.). The same report also refers to photographs of the assassination taken by a reporter with The San Diego Union-Tribune (ibid.).

Another report refers to an arrest "based on an analysis of the videotape broadcast on television and on graphic material in the police's possession" (EFE 29 Mar. 1994). However, two of the attached reports refer to "videotapes" in plural (The Washington Post 14 Apr. 1994; EFE 28 Mar. 1994).

One report states that "privately owned television stations have broadcast footage of Aburto's arrest" (Notimex 27 Mar. 1994). The report also states that "fingerprint records and all of the material regarding the investigation have been made available to the proper authorities and to the press to avoid speculation" (ibid.).

Please consult the attached documents for additional references to the video images and other information.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


Deutsche Press Agentur (DPA). 28 March 1994. "'Alleged Collaborator' of Assassin Arrested." (FBIS-LAT-94-060 29 Mar. 1994, p. 16)

EFE [Madrid, in Spanish]. 29 March 1994. "Former Policeman Arrested in Colosio Murder Case." (FBIS-LAT-94-061 30 Mar. 1994, p. 14)

_____. 28 March 1994. "'Source' Denies Reports of Accomplices." (FBIS-LAT-94-060 29 Mar. 1994, p. 17)

El Universal [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 28 March 1994. Dora Elena Cortes and Manuel Cordero. "Colosio, Victim of a Plot; Accomplice Arrested." (FBIS-LAT-94-062 31 Mar. 1994, pp. 9-12)

Notimex [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 27 March 1994. "Attorney General Views Probe." (FBIS-LAT-94-059 28 Mar. 1994, p. 25)

Radio ACIR Network [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 25 March 1994. "Valades Reports Conclusions." (FBIS-LAT-94-058 25 Mar. 1994, pp. 15-16)

The Washington Post. 14 April 1994. Tod Robberson. "Mexico Reportedly Now Doubts Assassination Involved Conspiracy." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.] 11-24 Apr. 1994, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 5-6)

Attachments


EFE [Madrid, in Spanish]. 29 March 1994. "Former Policeman Arrested in Colosio Murder." (FBIS-LAT-94-061 30 Mar. 1994, p. 14)

El Universal [Mexico City, in Spanish]. 28 March 1994. Dora Elena Cortes and Manuel Cordero. "Colosio, Victim of a Plot; Accomplice Arrested." (FBIS-lAT-94-062 31 Mar. 1994, pp. 9-12)

Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS). 29 March 1994. Latin America Daily Report. (FBIS-LAT-94-060), pp. 16-21. [please note that document shows FBIS-LAT-93-060]

_____. 28 March 1994. Latin America Daily Report. (FBIS-LAT-94-059), pp. 23-34. (Various articles)

_____. 25 March 1994. Latin America Daily Report. (FBIS-LAT-94-058), pp. 15-17. (Various articles)

_____. 24 March 1994. Latin America Daily Report. (FBIS-LAT-94-057), pp. 10-14. (Various articles)

Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 28 Mar.-10 Apr. 1994, Vol. 2, No. 5, pp. 4-8. (Various articles)

_____. 14-27 March 1994. Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 1-3. (Various articles)

The Washington Post. 14 April 1994. Tod Robberson. "Mexico Reportedly Now Doubts Assassination Involved Conspiracy." (Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.] 11-24 Apr. 1994, Vol. 2, No. 6, pp. 5-6)