🧐 ProPicks AI October update is out now! See which stocks made the listPick Stocks with AI

Mexicans protest journalist killings, call for protection

Published 01/25/2022, 09:51 PM
Updated 01/26/2022, 06:46 AM
© Reuters. Journalists hold framed pictures of late photojournalist Margarito Martinez during a protest for the killings of Margarito and journalist Lourdes Maldonado in the same week, outside the headquarters of the municipal police in Tijuana, Mexico January 24, 2

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican journalists on Tuesday started nationwide protests to denounce the recent murders of three reporters, demanding an end to impunity that has often characterized the killings of their colleagues.

The protests follow the murder of seasoned journalist Lourdes Maldonado on Sunday, some three years after she raised the issue of killings with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and said she feared for her life.

Protesters in the central state of Puebla laid flowers and candles on the street along with signs that read "I'm angry at censorship", television footage showed, while in the northern state of Chihuahua protesters scrawled on a wall "Journalism is a risk" and drew the face of Maldonado.

Israel Ibarra, president at a Baja California communications college, said if government and society failed to act they would be "complicit" not only in the murders of Maldonado and others but "the murder of freedom of expression in Mexico".

Mexico is one of the world's most dangerous countries for journalists, and some 145 have been killed between 2000-2021, according to Article 19, an advocacy group.

Mexican journalist networks voted to stage the gatherings, which will coincide with online protest campaigns.

"It is matter of urgency that state and federal authorities prevent attacks, protect journalists when they are victims, and investigate crimes committed against the press with due diligence," Article 19 said in a statement.

Maldonado's murder in the northern border city of Tijuana, where she worked for many years, followed the killings of two other Mexican journalists this month.

© Reuters. Mexican journalists gather around pictures of colleagues who have been murdered as they protest the recent killings of photojournalist Margarito Martinez and journalist Lourdes Maldonado, in Veracruz, Mexico January 25, 2022. REUTERS/Yahir Ceballos

Lopez Obrador, who has been criticized for not doing more to protect reporters, said his government would investigate and "clear up this crime to prevent further murders of journalists".

Critics say Lopez Obrador has failed to deliver on pledges to reduce violence, combat deeply entrenched organized crime, or reduce impunity. The president says crime and violence are the products of chronic corruption and inequality.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.