Obama set to visit Mexico

An LA Times article, urges Obama to focus his efforts when he visits Mexico later this week. In addition to military expenditures, there are hopes that he concentrates on the drug proble. It was quoted, "It does no good to capture drug kingpins if they don't go to jail. During 2008, only one out of every 10 suspects arrested in Mexico for drug offenses was convicted, according to official statistics. In Chihuahua, one of the bloodiest states in the country, only 1,621 out of the 5,674 suspects arrested over the last 12 months have even had to stand trial, because of the weakness of the prosecutors' cases."

The solution was dubbed as "effective instiution -building" by cracking down on the justice system and giving it a complete overhaul. I think that's a good solution. Obviously the problem is not minor and tweak here or there will not fix it. A complete restructuring of the justice system needs to be done. It is transparent that criminals are not scared of the system and know that they will get away with anything. Fear needs to be invoked in them.

By: Urja Dave (Mexico)

Mexico Ambassador Says U.S. Fuels Drug Trade

This past Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation," Mexico Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan said that weapons and money flowing from the U.S. into Mexico is helping fuel the violent drug trade taking place there.

"The key issue right now is how can the United States help to shut down those guns and shut down that bulk cash that is providing the drug syndicates in Mexico with the wherewithal to corrupt, to bribe, to kill," says Sarukhan.

With President Obama preparing to travel to Mexico this coming week Sarukhan is attributing 90% of the weapons in Mexico to the U.S. and also said the influx of guns is directly linked to the expiration of an assault-weapons ban in the U.S. in 2004.

The Obama adminstration said it has been taking several steps to provide more assistance to Mexico in its fight against drug violence, including providing more federal agents to try to stop gun smuggling.

Earlier in the month the U.S. and Mexico Attorney Generals met in hopes to discuss plans to stop the flow of illegal guns, weapons, and cash traveling between the two countries.

So far however, the U.S.'s efforts seem to be making no progress and alternative action will most likely need to be taken.

-Ashley Mickelwaite, Mexico

Mexico: Narco Wars Video

Daily headlines— Mexico at War—can become commonplace, routine— “Well, no surprise there.” Watching this Narco Wars video helped me to see the actual violence (not just words in a paper or lines read verbatim by a news anchor describing the violence) going on beneath our border.

As of this week, there are 50,000 troops positioned along the Mexico-U.S. border to combat the ongoing drug trafficking war. Over 10,100 people have been killed since December 2006. Violence is worsening as President Felipe Calderón declared war on the drug cartels and is digging deeper into the system—I think of it as going for the root in order to kill the entire cartel plant.

“If you don’t fight the cartels frontally, you have less violence but you have a lot of corruption,” said Political Analyst Jorge Chabat. “If you fight them like they’re doing right now, you have a lot of violence… So, the choice is not easy.”

Felipe is aggressively following through on his plan- "like no other administration in Mexico's history"- to stop the cartels. They're “structured like global terrorist organizations,” making them hard to break down— especially when police and political officials are being bribed with drug money.

“It’s one of the few countries where if you see a policeman, instead of feeling safe you feel threatened,” said an interviewee.

And as our Freedom House speaker mentioned, times of war and violence tend to suppress press freedom, making the Mexican journalists’ jobs even more dangerous now.

-- Amy Eichenlaub, Mexico

Mexico City: little change under NAFTA

Fifteen years after the North American Free Trade Agreement took effect, little positive change had been seen in Mexico City.
Mexico’s exports have exploded under Nafta, quintupling to $292 billion last year, but Mexico is still exporting people too, almost half a million each year, seeking opportunities in the United States that they do not have at home.
Economists here say much of the blame lies with Mexican leaders, but some also undeniably goes to consequences of Nafta, where in some cases, results were exactly the opposite of what was promised.
One of the many examples of these consequences is after Nafta, the new factories imported parts from their global suppliers leading to the demise of local companies that had sold printed circuit boards or assembled computers under tariff protection.
Even the success of Nafta’s exports is a problem because of the declining consumption of good in general in Mexico.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will arrive in Mexico on Wednesday and President Obama will visit next month. Both are expected to emphasize the successes of American-Mexican economic cooperation, but the effects of NAFTA will be hard to ignore.

Kaitlyn Lembo

Mexico: Journalist in exile, facing death threats

Jorge Luis Aguirre, a Mexican lawyer, journalist, and director of the online newspaper La Polaka, has been forced from his home in Mexico to seek safety in the US. His work as a reporter has made him a target of the drug cartels in Mexico, and government officials working in concert with the cartels have made several threats against his life. After fellow journalist Armando Rodriguez was murdered just outside Aguirre’s own home, Aguirre and his family fled to El Paso, Texas, and have been there since November 2008.

The picture Aguirre paints in the article is a grim one- he asserts that returning to Mexico would mean certain death for him, and he described the situation in Mexico as having “erased all authority and government from the map and replaced it with dictatorship of the crime underworld.” I think it’s hard, from an American perspective, to truly understand the dangers facing journalists and citizens in Mexico right now, but I this article goes a long way toward conveying the severity of the situation. The entire country has been ravaged by the violence, and it seems like the media system was one of the first casualties. What hope is there for free media when corrupted government has made reporting an offense punishable by death?

--Liz Hobson

Mexico: Mexico's most wanted

Two interesting things have happened this week. First, a police officer in charge of investigating kidnappings and extortion in the western state of Michoacan was killed by gunmen. Why am I not surprised that yet another killing has taken place due to drugs/extortion. It seems as though the violence will continue to rise if people continue to silence themselves. This police officier was taking a big risk in investigating this phenomenon and I'm sure that his death has spurred doubt within in the department as to whether or not to continue the investigation. My guess is that it will be called off and the debauchery will continue.
Second, The Associated Press reported Monday, "Mexico's Attorney General's Office on Monday published this list of most-wanted drug trafficking suspects and their top lieutenants, and offered rewards of up to $2.1 million for information leading to their capture.Rewards of $30 million pesos ($2.1 million) were offered for information leading to the arres of...." And the article continues to name some people. This actually scares me. If people start to try to find information, I believe that innocent lives may be taken.

Urja Dave (mexico)

Mexico: Son of Cartel Leader Detained

According to the LA Times, son of Ismael Zambada, a prominent Mexican drug lord and head of the Sinaloa cartel, Vincente Zambada was arrested Wednesday. Authorities Zambada had become high-level operator of a powerful trafficking group in the northwestern state of Sinaloa. He was taken in during an operation by the army and federal agents. Authorities described the arrest as an important blow against the alliance of Sinaloa-based traffickers headed by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera, who is Mexico's most-wanted fugitive.

They claim that this arrest is an "important blow to the organizations ability to operate and move drugs." Vincente Zambada is the latest member of the family captured during President Felipe Calderon's 2- year crackdown on drug trafficking. The arrest proves to be a small yet, important step in the right direction for the governments stance on drug cartels.

-Ashley Mickelwaite(Mexico)

Mexican Journalists Form “Mexican Journalists in Exile” Group

Recent threats to press freedom in Mexico have led two men to form Mexican Journalists in Exile, a solidarity group for fellow journalists fleeing death threats, as they have done.

Gutierrez Soto, 45, was threatened after writing a newspaper series quoting witnesses who said Mexican soldiers were caught “robbing people at gunpoint.”

“You’ve published three articles; don’t publish another one,” Gutierrez said a Mexican colonel and general told him. “If you do publish another one, we’ll kill you.”

Gutierrez stopped writing about alleged military abuses and filed a complaint with the national human rights commission. Three years later he received another death threat, though the Mexican military denies it. Gutierrez is looking for asylum in the U.S.—although it is rarely granted to journalists—and show that he has “a well-founded fear of persecution.”

Luis Aguirre, editor of a Mexican news website, may also request asylum. Aguirre received a death threat after writing columns that criticized the state attorney general’s office.

“Lots of people are threatened, and they don’t have alternatives,” said Aguirre.

Threats to press freedom seem to be occurring more and more frequently in Mexico, and I think it is noble of these men—who were threatened themselves—to create a group that could help colleagues in future, life-threatening instances.

Amy Eichenlaub (Mexico)

Film Captures Mexico’s Flawed Media System

“Voces Silenciadas” (Silent Voices), a new documentary directed by Maria De Lara, was filmed to increase awareness of Mexico’s persecuted journalists and show the even greater problems of media ownership and the media’s relationship with political powers.

The film’s aesthetics did not receive top-notch ratings, but De Lara does include moving interviews with well-known Mexican journalists (including Carmen Aristegui), writers and media executives. De Lara makes the case that issues like violence against journalists and freedom of expression are in critical condition. A culture of “self-censorship” is developing as media workers who cover the government and organized crime must be cautious about the stories they cover because they could possibly jeopardize their lives.

The film shows “how concentrated media ownership in Mexico has reduced the range of opinions in Mexico’s media and silence[d] unwanted ones.” Two companies—Televisa and TV Azteca— control 92 percent of Mexican T.V. stations, dominating the media Mexican’s view. Because Mexicans have hardly any control of the news they can watch, the hope is for average Mexican citizens to watch this film and become more enlightened about the struggle going on around them. I think documentaries like this are a fantastic way to spread awareness and promote change, and change is definitely needed in order to increase Mexico’s media and press freedom.

Amy Eichenlaub (Mexico)

Mexico: Conflict Crosses U.S. Border

Mexico, as our previous coverage attests, is so dangerous for journalists today as a result of the drug war raging throughout the country. Since Felipe Calderón took office in 2006, the drug war raging between major cartels has been an issue at the forefront. Calderon has recently acknowledged that the struggle has been more difficult than anticipated, and likened it to a cancer plaguing the country.

Ciudad Juarez has long been a hotbed of drug-related violence, and situated just across the border from El Paso, Texas, the proximity is bringing the U.S. closer to the conflict. And as Reuters reports, the border is blurring kidnappings and homicides in Arizona and Texas have been tied to Mexican violence overspill: incidents like a live grenade being thrown into a bar in Hidalgo County, Texas, as well as a slew of break-ins and thefts.

The danger associated with the drug war- to journalists as well as Mexican and American citizens alike- necessitates U.S. intervention. So far, the U.S. has agreed to honor the weapons ban in place (though largely ignored) to curtail arms smuggling, and pledged 1.4 billion in aircraft, police training, and efforts to aid Mexico. It remains to be seen whether this U.S. action will make a significant impact, but it is a necessary step in the right direction, not just to make Mexico a safer place, but eventually foster a nonthreatening media environment.

Liz Hobson

Former Mexican journalists offering asylum

As you can tell by now, Mexico is not a welcoming country for journalists. As Ashley mentioned in the last blog post, Jean Paul Ibarra Ramírez was fatally shot just last week. The number of murdered journalists in Mexico just keeps on climbing. I read a very interesting article, Two Mexican Journalists Look To Help Those Across The Border, which stated that two former Mexican journalists whose lives were threatened in Mexico want to offer asylum to current journalists. Emilio Gutierrez Soto, who asked the U.S. for asylum last year has plans to partner with another journalist and create an organization titled, PEMEXX (Periodistsas Mexicanos en Exilio). It will be really interesting to see how the organization fairs in the upcoming months/years and if it is able to give refuge to threatened journalists, like Lydia Cacho.

--Urja (Mexico)

Mexico: Another Photographer Dead, Reporter Injured

As the previous posts from my group suggest, violence against the press in Mexico is an ongoing problem. Yet, another incident has taken place last Friday that has left a crime photographer dead and a reporter injured.

According to an article by the Committee to Protect Journalists a gunman killed a photographer and injured a reporter in the southern city of Iguala, Guerrero state. The two reporters, Jean Paul Ibarra Ramírez, 33, from the newspaper El Correo and Yenny Yuliana Marchán Arroyo, 22, from the daily newspaper Diario 21, were each shot three times. The two reporters were on their way to cover a car accident around 10 p.m.

The police described the weapon used in the shooting to be a .45 caliber pistol, which is a firearm authorized for exclusive use by the Mexican army. Its use makes the shooting a federal crime and could bring in the federal government's special prosecutor for crimes against journalists.

Although many of the journalist related shootings in Mexico have some relationship to drugs and drug trafficking, neither of these reporters seemed to have a link. Ibarra was said to have stayed clear of stories about drug trafficking or police corruption to avoid danger. Marchán, a recent graduate writes a public opinion feature four days a week and covers the crime beat for the Diario 21.

CPJ is launching a thorough investigation today. One they hope will not be "twisted" by incompetent police and detectives. There has been additional skeptism regarding the Mexican government and President Felipe Calderón involving corruption.

Until the government wises up and takes a firm stance against the existing corruption, I don't see the safety of the Mexican journalists increasing.

-Ashley Mickelwaite
Mexico

Mexico: Drug Traffickers Fire Grenade at Televisa Studio

The increasing drug trade in Mexico has led to an increase in journalist killings as journalists go behind the scenes to investigate and report on drug trafficking. Keirin’s article about Armando Rodríguez (killed after examining Mexican drug cartels) emphasizes this point.

A group of men opened fire and launched a grenade into Televisa studios, Mexico’s top television network. According to a Newswatch article, the gunmen left a note that said, “Stop reporting on us.” Clearly, the act was meant as a threat to journalists to keep out of the drug traffickers’ business, but I think the government must intervene and protect journalists from such violence.

Carlos Lauría, a senior program coordinator for CPJ, said “Drug traffickers are clearly using the media to spread a message of fear and terror and make clear to everyone that there will be consequences to reporting on their activities. The government cannot allow criminals to intimidate the media into silence.”

So what should Mexico’s government do? They must complete their pending law to make violence against the press a federal crime, as mentioned in Urja’s article on Calderon’s efforts.

CPJ research shows that Mexico is “one of the most dangerous places for journalists in Latin America.” I agree with Lauría and think that Mexico’s government needs to start cleaning up the drug trafficking if it wants to step away from this title and into a more journalist-friendly, “media free” environment.

-- Amy Eichenlaub (Mexico)

Journalist fatally shot outside home in Ciudad Juárez

As both Liz and Urja have pointed out in our first two blog posts, the slaying of journalists has become a popular and unprecedented trend in Mexico over the past couple of years. Even with organizations such as Freedom House lending aid and encouraging Mexican officials to put an end to these atrocities, journalists are still living under the threat of being killed as a result of their profession. I believe it’s important to not only bring these killings to the attention of the world, but to also make them more tangible by sharing stories of individual reporters and their tragic stories.

Armando Rodríguez, a veteran police reported that had been investigating drug cartels in the city of Ciudad Juárez, was shot to death in November of 2008 while he was in his car outside of his own home. According to El Diario, the newspaper he had worked for, the gunmen had been waiting for him as he was preparing to bring his daughters to school. Rodríguez’s killing was the fifth against Mexican journalists in 2008.

According to the Dallas Morning News, after this event, the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York issued a statement urging Mexico to end the attacks and slayings of their journalists. “’The unprecedented wave of violence against the Mexican press must be halted immediately,’ said Carlos Lauría, the committee’s senior program coordination for the Americas.”

I completely agree with Lauría and the rest of the advocates for ending crimes against journalists in Mexico and around the world. It is completely ridiculous that governments and crime groups, which are sometimes unfortunately one in the same, are pinpointing these people to suppress the freedom of speech and press in their countries.

by Keirin Ahmad

Mexico: Calderon’s Efforts to Protect Free Speech, Journalists

As Urja pointed out, Mexico is one of the deadliest and most dangerous media systems for journalists. The statistics are staggering: According to the CPJ, 27 journalists have been killed in Mexico in the past 15 years. Journalists reporting on crime stories, drug cartels, trafficking, and organized crime are targeted so frequently that reporting on such topics has suffered and decreased.

Mexican president Felipe Calderon is addressing the dangers journalists face and may soon pass legislation that would provide a much stronger legal framework for the investigation and prosecution of journalist attacks. In 2008, Calderon endorsed and presented to Congress legislation that would make crimes “committed against freedom of expression” a federal offense. If the bill is passed, the federalization of these crimes could potentially make Mexico a safer place for journalists.

So much of the dangers journalists face in Mexico is exacerbated by the culture of fear, retribution, and corruption that runs rampant not just in organized crime circles, but in local government as well. Numerous suspicious journalist deaths in Mexico remain unsolved; in several instances this is more a product of poor police work, intimidation, and lack of resources at the local and state level than it is lack of evidence. Federalizing these crimes is a major step towards guaranteeing that justice – a thorough investigation, a fair trial, and supervision by federal officials – is served. With harsher penalties and a standardized system, the hope is that crimes against free speech, and journalists, will decrease.

-- Liz Hobson

Mexico-disappearing journalists only 2nd to Russia

Mexico-disappearing journalists only 2nd to Russia
In a period of three short years, at least seven Mexican reporters have disappeared—only second to Russia. Many of the journalists were reporting about links between public authority and drug traffickers. According to an article titled, “The Disappeared in Mexico” by the Committee to Protect Journalists, many of the reporters vanished while going to meet a source.
Because of the link between police and drug traffickers, some surmise that the crimes were intentionally unsolved. I would agree with that, how could the police department do a thorough investigation into a case that has labeled the police as the ‘bad guys’? The article also stated, “Rep. Gerardo Priego Tapia, who heads a congressional committee on violence against the press and who supports federalization of such crimes said, "The worst scenario for journalists is when organized crime and the government become partners. And in many parts of this country, they are completely intertwined."”
The murders and mysterious disappearances have led many newspapers to seriously question their journalistic values. In a Washington Post article, Manual Roig-Franzia wrote that a newspaper in Sorona was temporarily shut down in 2007 and editors at the two largest papers have encouraged their reporters to stay away from crime related stories. Although I understand why newspapers are trepid about covering such stories, it also, in my opinion, will lead to more journalists disappearing and the issue staying completely out of the press. If the media is afraid to cover certain hot topics, then what’s to stop them from being the public Watch Dog?
The most shocking aspect of the Washington Post article is that crime reporters are not the only targets. “While crime reporters are common targets, sportswriters have been kidnapped by drug cartel hit men upset over coverage of their favorite soccer teams,” Roig-Franzia wrote. If such asinine crimes are allowed to go on by the police, then something is very wrong with the authoritative system in Mexico. People cannot go around killing journalists just because they don’t like how the article was written!
Mexico’s President Calderon has promised to take steps to solve the problem and help make Mexico safer for journalists, which currently it is the second most dangerous country for journalists behind Iraq. It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds over the next few months.

By: Urja Dave