Mexico.- Mexico is the country that generates the greatest concern for international observance of the Inter-American Press Association (Yep), after Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, where it is freedom of expression non-existent.
In a telephone interview with Debate, the president of the IAPA, Jorge Canahuati, explained the seriousness of stigmatizing statements for journalists and media from the highest level, as President Andrés Manuel López Obrador does. In a context of violence and impunity in attacks against journalists.
Why is the situation in Mexico worrying?
It really is where the violence has hit journalists the most, this year they have already been murdered nine times, including Luis Enrique Ramírez. One murder is unfortunate, it’s too many, let’s not talk about nine in less than five months. It is unacceptable, but if we add to it a whole campaign of stigmatization, it is undeniable, of President López Obrador, that in itself has shown that these campaigns promote violence, I do not know if it is on purpose or not.
With Trump, violence against journalists increased; in the case of Bolsonaro, it also increased and in El Salvador the same.
Read more: Mexico is lethal for the practice of journalism, activists claim
There are words from the government but no results.
It is unfortunate, inexplicable that a democratic government of a country like Mexico is turning its back on what is happening, on the attacks on the Mexican press. Murders against journalists in Mexico are not new. At this time, not only should they have a strong investigative prosecutor’s office against crimes against journalists, but the deficiencies in the protection systems are also documented.
Mr. Luis Enrique had expressed his concern about the threats and the fear he had for his life. The government must talk less and do more.
Why do these murders affect society?
The press is an important column in democracies. We are seeing it with palpable cases in Venezuela, Nicaragua, forget about Cuba, where they are already 60 years old. Societies have joined in a crisis that the only ones who do not look at it are those in power.
The human suffering, the quality of life, the migration of citizens is unfortunate; and a live, strong, powerful press, that’s what helps prevent it from happening. A murdered journalist is too much, and we all suffer as if he were our journalist.
The government must comply in identifying those responsible, and in applying the opportune sanctions, not that time and years pass. The atmosphere that exists is gloomy and unfortunate, a country like Mexico cannot continue like this.
What happens when freedom of the press is lost?
Unfortunately, it is not until it is lost that freedom of the press is valued, it is the first to be attacked and the last to be lost of all freedoms.
It is the freedom that defends all other freedoms, it is the most resilient. It is proven in many parts of the world that, until it is lost, society says “and now who defends us? Who expresses the abuses? Who denounces them?”
The UN has made a public call to say that the media may disappear, which happened in the pandemic; the UN secretary said on Freedom of Expression Day last year ‘there may be a media extinction event due to effects of the pandemic.
Journalists in Mexico feel alone…
I want to tell you that although we are not with you physically, believe me you are not alone. We are doing what we can to raise the clamor so that one day your government can react.
It is unacceptable that a government like Mexico cannot focus to better protect journalists under threat and stop impunity, there is no explanation, there is no excuse. What they need is the political will.
Every time a journalist is murdered, self-censorship advances, fear advances and a voice is silenced. I know that the hearts of journalists are fighting, I know them, many or most of them continue in that fight, but it affects it, it is inevitable.
The government has to react, how do we react?
Starting with President López Obrador, who arrived there with the confidence of many Mexicans, believing that he was a Democrat, a tolerant one. He has to prove it, start removing the section of the program “Who’s who in the lies of the week?” In fact, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights asked him to remove it and he has been stubborn.
Read more: Farewell to the friend, the journalist, the son, the brother… to Luis Enrique Ramírez Ramos
Canahuati shared that the Inter American Press Association has been defending freedom of expression throughout the Western Hemisphere for 80 years. Thousands of media outlets in America are members of this organization, including Debate.
The Profile
Jorge Canahuati
President & CEO
opsa group
*Full name: Jorge Shibli Canahuati Larach.
*Place of birth: Chicago, United States.
*Career: Leads one of the main business groups in Honduras with a professional career of more than 40 years. He is president of the Honduran Media Association (AMC), regional vice president of Fundación Teleton and an active member of the Latin American Business Council (CEAL).
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