Document #1338519
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
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)