MEXICO.- Until not long ago 99% of the attacks and murders against journalists in this country occurred far from Mexico City. Most of them were concentrated in the states of Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chihuahua with unknown communicators nationwide, unlike the recent attempted murder against Ciro Gomez Leyvacolumnist and television host in two of the most important media outlets in the country.
On December 15, they unloaded a weapon against the armored truck that he was driving and since then the bickering has not stopped with a common denominator: whatever the motive was, it is an escalation closer to impunity and barbarism. than access to justice and the rule of law.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador later suggested, in one of his morning press conferences, that this attack could have been a “setup” in order to affect his government; In contrast, the international organization Article 19 considers Mexico the deadliest and most insecure country for communicators with an attack against it every 14 hours.
After the attack against Gómez Leyva, dozens of communicators signed a letter addressed to the president to demand an end to the harassment he exercises against critical journalists.
“Virtually all the emanations of hate towards journalists are incubated, born and spread in the National Palace. Defamation, which replaces the debate of ideas, is a call for physical violence against journalists stigmatized by the president. The murders of journalists mark a record in this six-year term, and the impunity is alarming,” the letter states.
In response to this request, López Obrador said that those who signed it were “pure journalist of the regime” (opponents) and asserted that “he does not polarize the country, but rather politicizes”, for which he made it clear that he will continue to do so for the “good of the people” of Mexico.
“Because it is something very important to leave this matter of information in the hands of the underworld of journalism, it is the information to the people, the right to information is a constitutional right, how are we going to leave it to them? I’m so sorry that you’re angry.”
2022
Since the beginning of the year, Article 19 detailed that in Mexico freedom of expression is exercised under siege and in a context of constant aggression. “The stigmatizing discourse from power and against human rights defenders creates conditions that perpetuate violence,” said the organization’s director for Mexico and Central America, Leopoldo Maldonado, earlier this year.
Almost twelve months later, he explained that only so far this year there have been 17 attacks against Article 19 which include: a death threat against him, the partial burning of a collaborator’s vehicle, espionage in offices and private homes, tax harassment, attempted fishing, theft of 1,600 files, among others.
“Throughout the year, our regional office has documented that the press is attacked every 14 hours and 12 journalists have been assassinated because of their work. This situation places Mexico as the riskiest country to practice journalism in the world.
In its investigations into attacks against the press in Mexico, Article 19 has managed to document that in the first half of 2022 attacks against journalists come mainly from the Mexican State with 128 cases; 75 by a public official; 45 by the armed forces. The rest have been attacks by individuals (68), 30 by organized crime, 17 by a political party and 88 undetermined.
Regarding the case of Ciro Gómez Leyva, the rumor spread that the attack could have been ordered by Mario Alberto Romero Rodríguez, “El Tucán”alleged leader of the “Los Caballeros Templarios” cartel.
It was disclosed by the president of Grupo Salinas, Ricardo Salinas Pliego (ally of the president in several State programs). The businessman cited a publication made by Ciro Gómez Leyva on his Twitter account, where he shared a video in which “El Tucán” is seen, accompanied by a regional band singer on October 12 in a church in Michoacan.
In that video, Gómez Leyva pointed out that, despite being “El Tucán” he was one of the most sought after targets by the federal government and that he was seen accompanied by municipal police officers, who even helped him carry a floral arrangement for the Virgin.
Days later, an alleged lawyer for “El Tucán” denied, on behalf of “his client”, the businessman’s version.
In any case, the attendance has not blocked the work of the communicator, as has happened in other cases.
Various organizations document that the forced internal displacement and exile of journalists is increasing because, in the absence of guarantees that allow them to carry out their work safely, they are forced to leave their homes. So far this year, Article 19 documented four cases in the official DIF system and two cases of exile.
The main problem, details Article 19, is that “from the head of the Federal Executive Power, a “cascade effect” continues to be identified where, regardless of the level of government, or the party, the authorities delimit their responsibility and even justify violence against the press by classifying it as conservative, sold out, or adversary, among others.”
Thus, the geography of violence has escalated to Mexico City with 49 attacks to become the entity where the largest number occurred with increases in the number of registered attacks compared to the same period in 2021, up to 9 times.
Besides, the main attacks documented in the first half of the year were intimidation and harassment (101 cases), threats (66 cases), followed by physical attacks and the illegitimate use of public power (45 attacks).
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