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In the words of one of our founding fathers,
Thomas Jefferson, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the
press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.” Some
newspapers, radio and television stations in Mexico admit
that they have begun to censor themselves in the face of violence
and intimidation from the narco-traffickers that seek to undermine
every pillar of Mexican society. Others bravely carry on reporting
the news, working out of offices under 24-hour police protection,
hiding the identity of reporters for fear of reprisals, willing
to pay the ultimate price to defend not their own freedom,
but the right of their countrymen to be informed, to know
the truth.
I am inspired by the courage and persistence of the Mexican
press corps. In what some independent observers have called
the most deadly country in the Americas for journalists, reporters
here continue to ply their trade, to inform the people in
defense of democracy. On International Press Freedom Day we
must recognize that the human toll on reporters in Mexico
threatens the fundamental political right of people in a free
society to be informed.
So far in 2008 five journalists have been murdered, at least
one has disappeared and many others have suffered attempts
on their lives or been subjected to threats and harassment.
Last year’s grim toll was two reporters killed and three newspaper
distributors slain. The violence is multi-faceted, from narco-violence
to attempts at political intimidation, from the north to the
south of the country.
President Calderon has repeatedly recognized the importance
of protecting the press, stating in February that, “...the
authorities are duty-bound to punish with the full force of
the law those who attempt to silence the media through violence
and intimidation. Every attack against the press is an attack
against free expression and an attack against Mexico.” And
beyond the federal level, at the state and local level more
can and should be done to protect journalists, publishers,
newspapers and broadcasters.
Brad Will’s family and the American people are still waiting
for results of the investigation into his death. The Committee
to Protect Journalists and the Inter-American Press Association
have both demanded a full investigation. Brad was in Oaxaca
City in 2006 to tell the world an important story about political
unrest there, when he was shot and killed while covering a
protest. The Mexican authorities have now agreed to allow
independent experts to examine evidence in the case, and I
sincerely hope the investigation will move forward to identify
and prosecute those responsible for Will’s death.
Another crime in Oaxaca has recently shocked the world. On
April 7, two young women working for an indigenous community
radio station were gunned down as their car drove through
an apparent ambush -- three other people including a three-year
old child were wounded in the attack. In response to the apparent
political intimidation, another reporter at the station has
bravely declared, “No one will silence us - they cannot shut
us up or scare us off.” Authorities have yet to name suspects
in this attack.
In the face of this brave spirit, this defiance of those
who wield the sword, who would not be moved to support those
who defend our right to know carrying nothing but a pen or
a camera? Not only on International Press Freedom Day, but
throughout the year, we must insist on the right of journalists
to be our eyes and ears, to pursue a story and follow the
facts where-ever they lead, whether to the lair of a drug
dealer or to the halls of power. We must call on the police
to shield the press from violence, on government officials
to open their doors and their files, and on the courts to
bring to justice those who commit crimes against journalists.
As Mexico moves forward to end the impunity of the narco-criminals,
let us call as well for an end to the impunity of violence
against journalists, for full investigations of the cases
of Brad Will and the others who have lost their lives protecting
our freedoms, and a better day for journalists in Mexico.
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