Telésforo Santiago Enríquez

Telésforo Santiago Enriquez worked as a school teacher and as a professor of indigenous education.[1][2]

He founded the community indigenous radio station ″El Cafetal″ in the southern indigenous region of Mexico, in the Municipality of San Agustín Loxicha, Oaxaca state.[2][3] He sought to preserve indigenous traditions and the Zapotec language and to protect the rights of indigenous people through the radio.[4] According to a statement by Mexico's National Human Rights Commission after his death, he criticized local government for diverting public funds.[4]

On May 2, 2019, the eve of World Press Freedom Day, he was fatally shot in the mouth and heart. His dead body was found in a vehicle that afternoon. Authorities reported that he had been driving in the neighborhood of Ampliación Tres Cruces when he was ambushed and killed.[1][2][3][4] He had been threatened in February 2019[4] and had recently received an anonymous threat on his live call-in talk show when he was criticizing local government.[5]

The authorities of Costa Region started an investigation into the murder.[1] Jesús Ramírez Cuevas, a spokesman for the President of Mexico, said the Mexican government was committed to protect journalism in Mexico and would make every effort to find the murderers.[5][6]

In response to the shooting, international journalist organisations expressed outrage at the situation in Mexico, where journalists are often killed. Reporters Without Borders issued a statement on 3 May, emphasizing his work for human rights;[4] Emmanuel Colombie, head of the organization's Latin America branch, said: ″This latest murder is a reminder of how dangerous it is to practice journalism in Mexico″.[5]

• List of unsolved murders