Mexico’s President Vows to Step Up Protections for Journalists
President Enrique Peña Nieto’s pledge to replace Mr. Nájera
and ensure funding for a federal protection program for threatened journalists follows several critical reports accusing the government of complicity in attacks on the news media and of an inability — or unwillingness — to investigate cases.
By AZAM AHMEDMAY 5, 2017
MEXICO CITY — Faced with a wave of deadly attacks against journalists, the president of Mexico has vowed to take concrete steps to ensure the safety
of journalists in his country, including removing the lead prosecutor responsible for investigating crimes against the freedom of expression.
Mr. Nájera, in interviews late last year, said that most of the cases involving journalists had nothing to do with the issues related to the freedom of expression,
and that was why his office investigated so few cases.
And yet there is near total impunity for the attackers, in part
because the special office responsible for prosecuting cases involving the freedom of expression rarely brings anyone to justice for the crimes.
Ricardo Nájera, the lead prosecutor, has repeatedly failed to take on cases, including homicides, in which evidence exists
that the victim’s reporting and writing had provoked the wrath of attackers.
Since its creation in 2010, the office has examined more than 800 cases of serious crimes but has won only two convictions.