A Mexican reporter was shot dead on Friday in Mexico following a surge in drug cartel-related violence in the country.

Evaristo Pacheco Solís, 33, a reporter for the Mexican weekly Visión Informativa, was found shot dead in Chilpancingo, the state capital of Guerrero, on 12 March.  Costa Rican daily Nuestro Pais reported that 28 people, including drug traffickers and police, were killed in a string of violent attacks in Guerrero state that day.

Local press and media observers state that at least five journalists are still missing, reported kidnapped, in the Latin American country, with 15 journalists reported missing since the beginning of the year.

In a statement sent to the International Press Institute (IPI), the Inter American Press Association, in reference to the death of Pacheco and a Honduran journalist, said: “There can be no doubt that we face one of the most tragic moments in the history of the Latin American press.”

“Less than three months into 2010, with four journalists killed already, Mexico has the tragic distinction of being the most dangerous country for journalists in the world so far this year,” said IPI Press Freedom Manager Anthony Mills. “In 2009, it was the world’s second most dangerous country for reporters. As journalist after journalist is slain there, the Mexican population – who stand at the forefront of the government’s violent conflict with drug cartels – are being deprived of their right to information, and courageous Mexican journalists are being brutally deprived of their right to inform.”