Disappear three Spanish journalists in Syria

USPA NEWS - Three Spanish journalists working as a freelancer in Syria, a country that entered the 10th of July, have been missing for nine days ago, according confirmed on Tuesday the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This department does not yet speak of kidnapping.

Spanish journalists Angel Sastre, Jose Manuel Lopez and Antonio Pampliega are missing in Syria for nine days, as confirmed on Tuesday the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federation of Associations of Journalists of Spain (FAPE its acronym in Spanish). These two organizations reported that the three journalists had entered Syria last July 10 from Turkey and worked as freelancers. Contact with them was lost on July 12.

At the moment, according to the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we can only speak of disappearance, although the place where they lost contact with them, near Aleppo, and a history of attacks on journalists in the war in Syria, suggest that they have been kidnapped. There is also no certainty about the circumstances in which the disappearances occurred, and it is not known whether the three journalists were working together or separately.

The Spanish government has contacted the families of the missing journalists and a cabinet crisis remains on alert, awaiting the news from Syria. Professional organizations also have been made available to the families. These organizations highlighted on Tuesday the difficulties are faced by freelance journalists working in Syria. Without the coverage of major media, they risk getting a story that can sell newspapers and international television, and that makes them especially vulnerable.