Mexico: Wave of attacks on journalists alarms international community

Photo Contributor: AndriiKoval (Shutterstock)

01 December: In recent weeks, Mexico has seen an escalation of violence against journalists. Once again, a backdrop of impunity and corruption set the stage for a surge in attacks, threats, persecution, and murder of reporters in one of the deadliest countries for journalism in the Americas.

The Mexican authorities must provide the necessary protections to enable journalists to do their work without risk of reprisals. The local and federal governments must actively ensure justice for the families of murdered reporters, ending impunity and sending a strong signal to end the climate of violence against independent journalism, said Romana Cacchioli, PEN International Executive Director.

According to media reports, on 28 November journalists Víctor Mateo (Ahora Guerrero and Guerrero al Instante), Jesús de la Cruz (Reporte Guerrero and El Jaguar), and an unnamed third journalist (withheld for safety reasons), along with photographer Óscar Guerrero of Primer Plano, were subjected to a firearm attack in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. The journalists had documented the murder of a public transport driver, and subsequently, as they were compiling their reports, were assaulted.

Later that evening, Maynor Ramón Ramírez Arroyo, a journalist with Diario ABC de Michoacán, was shot at in Apatzingán, Michoacán. Ramírez Arroyo, specializing in reporting on crime and violence in his community, had previously experienced an attack in 2016.  Diario ABC de Michoacán condemned these attacks, rejecting any act of intimidation, violence and threats aimed at hindering news coverage.

On 23 November, the abduction of three journalists by armed groups in Taxco, Guerrero, was reported by the NGOs and media. According to available information, on 19 November, Marco Antonio Toledo Jaimes, director of the weekly Espectador de Taxco, and correspondent of N3 Guerrero, La Crónica, and Vespertino de Chilpancingo, went missing along with his wife and son. Toledo Jaimes and his relatives were forcibly taken from their homes, and their computer equipment and mobile phones were destroyed.

Few days earlier, on 22 November, Silvia Nayssa Arce Avilés and Alberto Sánchez Juárez, contributors to the digital newspaper RedSiete, were abducted on the street, near the offices of the digital media, according to their relatives. The journalists were released between 25 and 26 November, with Toledo Jaimes’ son released on 29 November.

At least four journalists were killed in 2023 in possible connection to their work.
PEN International calls on the Mexican authorities to:

·       Thoroughly investigate the attacks and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. Adhere to the Standard Protocol for Crimes against Freedom of Expression in their investigations;

·       Implement protective measures for journalists at risk and their families;

·       Facilitate coordination between local and federal mechanisms to ensure security and prevent the stifling of news coverage.

PEN International calls on the Mexican local and federal governments to:

·       Pursue all legal remedies to promptly and impartially investigate threats, targeted killings, and disappearances of journalists;

·       Tackle the crisis of violence against journalists in the country; and ensure that the protection measures provided through the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists are efficient and effective in safeguarding journalists;

·       Guarantee the full exercise of freedom of expression in compliance with Mexico’s international obligations.

To learn about PEN International’s work on Mexico, please click here:

For more information, please contact Alicia Quiñones, Head of the Americas Region, at PEN International, email: [email protected].