MEXICO WITHOUT FREE PRESS ...
We knew for several years: Mexico is one of the three countries where the dangers are greater reporting. He was preceded Iraq and Pakistan.
This year, the organization The Freedom House notes that our country is one of four in Latin America where "there is no free press." Yes, where it is almost impossible to find out about events that undermine society. The other nations on this continent, according to the U.S. institution are Honduras, Cuba and Venezuela.
According to the study, Mexico fell 60 places, up to 138 - about 2010. All because of the war on drugs. Thus, not only Mexican businessmen complain that violence prevents the flow of investment and enables owners of factories leave the country, but also notes that the margins are reduced by reporting the bad guys and their henchmen.
In the report it is stated that "organized crime succeeded in threats and bribes to extend its control over the news agenda" ( Reform, May 3, 2011). Something very obvious if we remember that El Diario de Juarez published an editorial that questioned not the authorities, but the drug lords about what to do to prevent further killing baleando reporters and facilities .
In response, state and federal governments have done nothing. Just switched to the police for the Army and vice versa, in addition to strengthening the personal guard of the authorities, but the ordinary citizens and reporters have not treated differently. He knows very well the family of Maricela Escobedo, who left the country after the killings of several of its members.
But someone might say "that's in the North", as there are states that are considered too dangerous for reporters. Among them, Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Michoacan and Guerrero. In the latter, for example, The Southern , Juan Angulo, suffered several attacks by the former governor Zeferino Torreblanca. This shows that officials are sometimes more dangerous than the thugs.
Recently, on April 29, writer Luis Humberto Crosthwaite, when he presented his latest work Tijuana crime and neglect, was ordered to leave hastily Tlaxcalteca Institute of Culture on the orders of its director Carlos Gerson Orozco, since he considered "dangerous" which was to tell the writer.
Luis Humberto says: "My novel is about violence and missing journalists" and "floor to explain that is a reflection of what is currently happening in the country: the violence unleashed by drug traffickers and multiplied by the war declared President Calderón "( El Financiero, May 3, 2011). Strangely, the governor of Tlaxcala, Mariano González Zarur is PRI.
According to a report by the National Commission on Human Rights, 2005 to March 2011 have been reported 68 homicides Aztec soil and 13 disappearances of journalists. Have also been ratified 473 complaints and 21 cases of attacks on media facilities (ibid.).
have demanded Although homicides are solved, the Special Prosecutor long name and great inefficiency and the new commission that will not just settle, but which includes to the Interior Ministry and other agencies, absent. That is, there is no political will to fix something that threatens democracy as we know from many theorists that without a free press and strong, nothing is going well.
In a display of the National Front for the Freedom of Expression, there is the impunity, censorship and ongoing violence against reporters and media. Regrets that group that the government fails to implement measures to end impunity, censorship and self-censorship (displayed in La Jornada, May 3, 2011).
Against this background, Felipe Calderon sent a message to congratulate the journalists and said that he will respect the ideas, proposals and expressions of all. But of course, it is necessary that the words are passed to the facts, because in an uncertain environment there is not much to do.
remember, of course, a few weeks ago sent abroad to university professor and Italian journalist Giovanni Proiettis. There were no explanations, though several colleagues argued that it was for his criticism of the war the narco and Mexican positions on climate change.
not forget, either, that the magazine Contralínea recently won a battle for freedom of information. Had been sued by a company that has contracts with Petroleos Mexicanos. And is that the weekly announced a series of negotiations unclear. The judge had sentenced Alonso Yassmine the publication for allegedly "exaggerated" in the dissemination of the facts, but a higher court corrected him flat to the lady, exempting Miguel Badillo, Ana Lilia Perez, Nancy Flowers and cartoonist David Manrique, in the latter case is the first time in decades that sought to punish a cartoonist.
But do not think that the demands on reporters are exceptional. Contralínea has been taken to court on several occasions, one in which this reporter is involved. But also the beautiful governor , Mario Marín, Jorge Meléndez also sued for moral damages. The ducks then swinging to guns.
There are other serious issues little discussed: the lack of funds to the government stations, lack of community radio licensing, government advertising exaggerated the private media and many others.
Freedom of the press or involution of the media?
Jorge Meléndez Preciado . Contralínea magazine.
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