“Without journalists there is no democracy”: Arturo Zaldívar urged to protect the press in Mexico

The president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), Arturo Zaldivar de Larreaexpressed this Friday his solidarity with journalists in the country, where five informers have been murdered so far in 2022, and assured that without them there is no democracy.

“In a democracy, the work of journalists is essential. Informing the population of everything that happens and generating a robust debate is essential for freedom to be exercised. You are a fundamental part of democracy, without you there is no democracy, it’s that easy,” the minister said during a press conference.

Zaldívar reflected on the seriousness of the recent attacks on communicators that shock the union and also public opinion in this country and said that Respect for the profession should be encouragedin a climate of tension in which the president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has not stopped criticizing the press despite the delicate situation.

“It is a serious and delicate issue in which we must all get involved, both authorities and civil society to protect this union that is of the utmost importance. Be certain that the judiciary in its powers will be up to what this moment demands “

Furthermore, about the protection mechanisms for journalists state and federal, said it’s important to make sure not only that they exist, but also that are effective in safeguarding their physical integrity.

“Throughout my career as minister I have shown unrestricted (unlimited) respect for freedom of expression, that my votes, my projects have always been in line with favoring human rights and above all freedom of expression”

Reporters Without Borders (FSR) places Mexico as the deadliest country in the world for the presswith seven murders recorded in 2021. In addition, it ranks position 143 of 180 countries in the World Ranking of the Freedom of the press RSF 2021.

From 2000 to date, the organization Article 19 has documented 150 murders of journalists in Mexico, possibly related to their work. Of the total, 138 are men and 12 are women.

Of these, 47 were registered during the previous term of President Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018) and 30 in the current López Obrador (2018-2024).

As if that were not enough, the president he has become known for his disqualifications of critical journalists. Recently, last Friday, February 11, she took advantage of his conference to discredit Carlos Loret by Molaby publicly speculating about his income, which was described on social networks as an excessive attack and revenge for the investigation he carried out for the possible interest conflict between his son, Jose Ramonand an oil company that rented a mansion in houstonTexas.

“Thugs, mercenaries (and) sellouts”have been some of the adjectives used by the chief executive.

In this context, the International Press Institute (IPIfor its acronym in English) made a call to the president Lopez Obrador to put an end to impunity that exists before “horrible murders” that the union has suffered in recent weeks and that the Mexican authorities conduct prompt, thorough and transparent investigations on the cases of murdered journalists.

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