The anti-government protests in Chile have captivated the news media around the globe not only because of their sheer size but also because of the ferocity with which the Chilean government has responded to their citizens’ demonstrations.
And now one photographer capturing it all was found stabbed to death in a grim reminder of just how dangerous this field can be.
Albertina Martínez was found beaten and stabbed to death in her apartment on November 21, 2019, a few days after she had captured major anti-government protests on November 19.
Her bag containing her camera and photography equipment was taken from her apartment by whoever perpetrated the violent act which has what has led many to tie the events together.
A colleague at El Mercurio, Sergio López, said that Martínez “enjoyed taking pictures at the protests, even though she was a little afraid,” The Guardian reports.
Martínez’s death follows a string of violent attacks against the press in Chile including the tear-gassing of a BBC camera crew, PetaPixel writes.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and UNESCO are both calling for a thorough investigation into what happened to Martínez, noting the increasing pressure on journalists within Chile because of the current situation.
The authorities are currently looking into the case as a robbery with a homicide which has increased calls for authorities to “thoroughly investigate the killing … to determine if it was linked to her reporting and do everything possible to recover her equipment and materials.”
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