Who Shot Brad Will? (Villiage Voice 11/26)

[John Q. Citizen]

By Sarah Ferguson | November 26, 2006
http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/powerplays/archives/003109.php

The family of slain Indymedia journalist Brad Will has renewed its call for an independent investigation of his shooting, which occurred while Will was covering protests in Oaxaca, Mexico. Family members accused authorities in Oaxaca of attempting a "ludicrous" cover-up after the Oaxaca state attorney general, Lizbeth Caña Cadeza,alleged earlier this month that Will was shot by the protesters he'd gone to Mexico to film.


Will, 36, was gunned down on the outskirts of Oaxaca City on October 27 as he videotaped a street skirmish that broke out after pro-government gunmen opened fire on supporters of APPO (the Popular People's Assembly of Oaxaca). The grassroots coalition had taken over government buildings and barricaded streets in the capital in order to force the removal of Oaxaca governor Ulises Ruiz.


snip..

Nevertheless, at a press conference on Wednesday, November 15, Caña and other state forensic experts presented new ballistic "evidence" purporting to show that Will had been shot at close range—which Caña said "proved" Will could not have been shot by the PRI gunmen.

snip....

The Oaxacan authorities' new murder theory contradicts the abundant media footage showing the frantic demonstrators carrying his injured body amid a hail of gunfire, then struggling to revive him. If someone from APPO wanted him dead, they could have just let him die in the street. Why bother putting him in a car then shooting him again? And how could any expert tell from photos of the body that the second shot was delivered 15 minutes later?

One U.S. official told the Voice, "I don't know anyone who believes what they're saying."

more...
http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/powerplays/archives/003109.php


An interesting article which details the Oaxaca State's Attorney General's apparent cover up of the Murder of American journalist Brad Will by the Oaxacan State government

[mirandapriestly]

1. I didn't know "authorities" were blaming protestors

I'm glad it is being investigated. I didn't kow it was at close range either. I hope the culprits are discovered, but if it's anyone powerful it will be covered up

[John Q. Citizen]

2. It wasn't at close range. That's what the state prosecutor is now trying to

allege to try and support her unbelieveable theory.

The coroner nails it pretty well though.

The gunman might not be powerful, but he works for the powerful. This is why the people of Oaxaca are in revolt. They live under an unbearable system of oppression.

[babydollhead]

3. on democracy now...

there was an excellent eulogy read by another reporter. worth the read. it's in the archives