Enrique Benjamin Solis Arzola, Mayor Of Silao Allegedly Sent Paid Thugs To Beat Up Heraldo Female Reporter

Karla Janeth Silva and Enrique Benjamin Solis Arzola

A group of thugs went to the Heraldo de Silao newspaper offices in Guanajuato, Mexico to beat up Karla Janeth Silva, a reporter.

By H. Nelson Goodson

September 5, 2014

Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico - On Thursday, the Heraldo de Leon reported that on Wednesday multiple thugs went to the offices of the Heraldo de Silao newspaper and assaulted (beat up) Karla Janeth Silva, a reporter and a newspaper office assistant. Silva filed a criminal complaint with the Public Ministry in Silao and alleged that Mayor Enrique Benjamin Solis Arzola of the Silao municipality or his administration had sent the thugs to beat her up. Silva says, she had received direct threats by the Solis Arzola administration to tone down her reporting about the mayor and his administration.

The thugs had gone to look for her earlier in the morning and she had sent a message to Carlos Martínez Vertti, a fellow newspaper associate that some men had gone to the newspaper offices to look for her. He advised her to go home. Then around 5:30 p.m., the thugs stormed into the offices of the Heraldo de Silao and assaulted Silva. 

Silva had criticized the Solis Arzola's administration for lack of transparency, public security, corruption and misappropriation of funds.

She was hospitalized and was treated for injuries sustained when she was attacked by the thugs. The thugs also destroyed or damaged computer equipment, according to the Heraldo de Leon.

Mayor Solis Arzola has not released any comments concerning Silva's assault by paid thugs.