President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico has vowed to enhance the protection of journalists in his country. Reuters reports that President Peña Nieto will strengthen measures in investigations into attacks against journalists. In a press conference held Wednesday 17 May, he announced these changes but was met by heckles from journalists who do not believe enough is being done to protect them.
Peña Nieto earlier tweeted, “I reiterate our commitment to freedom of expression and the press, fundamental for our democracy.” At the press conference he said, “Each crime against a journalist is a strike against freedom of expression and the press and the citizenry.” The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) stated in a report this month that most killings of journalists in Mexico go unpunished. Journalists at the press conference shouted “Justice!” indicating their lack of faith in the measures stated by the president. CBS reported that two of the three proposed measures promised by the president are already in effect but do not appear to be working, namely more resources for journalists under threat and more resources for the special prosecutor’s office who investigates crimes against journalists. The third proposal, greater communication between state and federal authorities, does not provide protection but furthers the other mentioned goal of investigating attacks on journalists.
The drug war in Mexico has been growing for the last decade and this has led to a rise in violence, with CBS reporting that homicides were up by 29 percent in the first quarter of 2017. President Peña Nieto is concerned about the specific targeting of journalists as an attack on the democracy of the nation itself. His current actions, although positive, have failed to quiet many of the President’s critics, who vehemently assert that more needs to be done.
Efficient communication between the state and federal authorities will be critical, as combined they can enforce the law across the entire country, ensuring that any rogue states supporting cartels can be brought under control quickly. Drug traffickers are quick to resort to violent means to deliver their warnings, and consequently, countering their activities without the use of violence by Mexican authorities represents an immense challenge. One could point to curbing the availability of firearms as a necessary and comparatively “peaceful” measure that must receive more government support. Furthermore, if an effective protection mechanism can be created, more people may be willing to provide valuable information about gang activity, giving police officials the opportunity to apprehend gang members without a gun battle.
The CPJ, in a recent report, states that this year there have been seven journalists murdered in Mexico, and more than 100 killed since 2000. Earlier this week, CBS reported that an award-winning journalist, Javier Valdez, had been killed in the latest of a string of journalist killings in Mexico. Valdez was renowned for his investigations and reporting on drug trafficking. On the same day as his murder, Reuters reported that gunmen killed a magazine reporter in a neighbouring state. The current lack of protection sees few informants come forward. Doing so means risking their lives and becoming a target for cartels. Unfortunately, while revenge executions of journalists and informants remain a mainstay of Mexico’s front page news, the risk is simply too great for many to take.
President Peña Nieto has taken a positive step towards ending violence against journalists in Mexico; however, it is likely to be too little to curb the growing death toll. What is required is a significant shift and growth in the ability to protect both journalists and informants. If this is provided, with all parties (informants, journalists, state and federal authorities, and the government) working together there is an opportunity for Mexico to reduce the bloodshed and stabilize their democracy.
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