The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network for independent journalism, today published a full-page print ad in The Washington Post calling on Mexico to end impunity for the many horrific killings of journalists in the country.
Since the start of 2022 alone, five Mexican journalists have been violently murdered, marking one of the darkest periods for the Mexican press in recent memory.
In today’s Washington Post, readers will find a full-page print ad from , a Post press freedom partner, calling on Mexico to for the killing of journalists.
鈥� The Washington Post Press Freedom Partnership (@wppressfreedom)
On January 10, Jos茅 Luis Gamboa Arenas was shot in the southeastern state of Veracruz.聽A week later, on January 17, photojournalist Margarito Mart铆nez was shot in the head outside his home in the northern border city of Tijuana. Journalist Lourdes Maldonado was killed on January 23 in Tijuana, while camera operator Roberto Toledo was shot on January 31 in the city of Zit谩cuaro. And while Mexican journalists were still mourning the deaths of four of their colleagues, Heber L贸pez V谩zquez was killed in Salina Cruz on February 10.
With these killings, Mexico maintains its deplorable status as the deadliest country in the world for journalists to work, just as in in 2021. At least 150 journalists have been killed in Mexico in the last 25 years, according to IPI鈥檚 Death Watch.
For Mexican journalists, there is no time to recover from the killings of their colleagues, Tijuana-based journalist Gabriela Mart铆nez told IPI in an earlier interview. 鈥淲e were still healing from the pain of our colleague鈥檚 death, and six days later, we needed to cry for another colleague? The violence is everywhere.鈥�
There is an alarmingly insufficient response from authorities to killings of journalists.聽In Mexico, the vast majority of crimes against journalists go unpunished, fueling further violence. Other measures taken by the authorities remain woefully inadequate. Maldonado was part of a local to protect journalists in danger that failed to protect her in the end. Seven journalists enrolled in a similar federal protection program to protect journalists since 2018, according to reports.
In 2018, Mexico鈥檚 President Andr茅s Manuel Lop茅z Obrador made the promise to 鈥溾��, but violence against journalists has not stopped since then. Instead, the president has become known for his verbal attacks on critical journalists. As recently as last Friday, February 11, L贸pez Obrador used his regular press conference to a prominent media figure, Carlos Loret de Mola, by publicly speculating about the presenter鈥檚 income. A few days later, on Monday February 15, the president by calling critics 鈥渢hugs, mercenaries [and] sellouts鈥�.
Protests
The recent killings sparked nationwide protests on January 25, 2022 in more than 40 cities across Mexico, calling attention to the killings and urging authorities to end impunity. With its ad in The Washington Post, which ran in the print edition on February 16, IPI expresses its full support for efforts to end impunity for the murders of journalists in Mexico.
IPI urgently demands that Mexican authorities conduct swift, thorough, and transparent investigations into the cases of murdered journalists, IPI Deputy Director Scott Griffen said. 鈥淭he killing spree against Mexican journalists to start 2022 has shocked the world, unprecedented even for those familiar with the country鈥檚 history of generalized violence against the press. Mexican authorities must find all those responsible for these murders, including and especially the ultimate masterminds. They must immediately introduce more robust measures to protect journalists at risk and ensure that these measures actually work. As our ad states, where journalists are not safe, neither is democracy.鈥�
He added: 鈥淭he IPI global network of members from around the world stands with the families and colleagues of Mexico鈥檚 slain journalists in demanding justice. This horrific pattern of violence and attacks on the fundamental right of Mexico鈥檚 citizens to news and disinformation must end.鈥�
The ad is being run as part of聽, an ongoing initiative that aims to highlight organizations working vigilantly to promote press freedom and raise awareness of the rights of journalists worldwide.