Mexico: violence and murder against journalists
Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, yet violence and murder frequently go unpunished. Recent incidents targeting journalists have reminded the international community about the deteriorating safety conditions for journalists in Mexico.
In Mexico's eastern state of Veracruz, Jacinto Romero Flores, a journalist and a radio host, was shot and killed while driving his car. Flores had previously received threats following revelations he made about corruption and abuse of power by police and local officials. As reported, Flores was threatened and urged to stop "writing crap" concerning his investigations. The journalist reportedly sought protection from the State Commission for Attention to and Protection of Journalists (CEAPP) in Veracruz, which he received, as reported by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
In response, the commission called for the public prosecutor's office to open a full investigation into whether Romero's journalism played any role in his death.
While Mexico's Public Security Ministry vowed to find Romero's killers, Romero's murder serves as a painful reminder that press freedom in the country is under attack, with journalists paying the price with their lives. Since the beginning of the year, RSF has reported on four more murders of journalists:
Benjamín Morales Hernández, murdered on 2 May in Sonora state,
Gustavo Sánchez Cabrera, on 17 June in Oaxaca state,
Ricardo López Domínguez, on 22 July in Sonora state,
and Saúl Tijerina, on June 22, in Coahuila state.
Investigative reporter Maria Teresa Montaño in Mexico was abducted and robbed a few days ago, according to news reports. Unlike Flores, Montaño had never received death threats regarding her work, but the crimes against her may be connected to her employment with The Observer. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), her work involved reporting on "irregularities in the finances of Mexico state’s government." The Guardian also reported on a Mexican drug cartel that had threatened a TV anchor's life over his "unfair" reporting, further evidence of why the country remains one of the most dangerous locations for journalists.
