(PFC/IFEX) – Chiapas journalist Angel Mario Ksheratto, author of the daily column “Fichero Político”, published in “Cuarto Poder” newspaper, was arrested on 9 January 2003. He is facing charges of defamation and “stealing official documents.” Ksheratto was released on US$6,085 bail, ordered by Judge Miguel Angel Villalba Sánchez of the Tuxtla Gutierrez First Criminal Court. […]
(PFC/IFEX) – Chiapas journalist Angel Mario Ksheratto, author of the daily column “Fichero Político”, published in “Cuarto Poder” newspaper, was arrested on 9 January 2003. He is facing charges of defamation and “stealing official documents.” Ksheratto was released on US$6,085 bail, ordered by Judge Miguel Angel Villalba Sánchez of the Tuxtla Gutierrez First Criminal Court. However, the charges against the journalist are pending.
In August 2002, Ksheratto reported on the results of an investigation into alleged irregularities and corruption in the Chiapas School Construction Committee (Comité de Construccion de Escuelas, COCOES). The journalist alleged that a criminal racket operates under the leadership of COCOES director Carlos Alberto Cruz Coutiño, with the consent of Chiapas State Governor Pablo Abner Salazar. The cases cited by Ksheratto include the irregular awarding of bonds and infrastructure projects. COCOES Communications Director María de Pilar Fernández subsequently accused the journalist of defamation. In his reports, Ksheratto charged that del Pilar Fernández reportedly received US$4,159 for medical expenses through falsified documents.
Ksheratto has received a number of telephone death threats and, on several occasions, has been pursued by individuals in vehicles without licence plates. Moreover, the Prosecutor’s Office has threatened to charge the journalist with “possession of a stolen vehicle,” despite the fact that Ksheratto has presented documents proving that he legally purchased the car in question.
In a letter to Judge Villalba Sánchez, PFC recommended that “instead of unjustly prosecuting Ksheratto, who has based his accusations on factual documentation, the authorities should follow up on these allegations, investigate the COCOES operation and prosecute the individuals involved.”
“It is unacceptable that journalists are treated as common criminals for exercising all citizens’ right to freely express themselves and oversee public affairs,” PFC stated. The organisation recalled that in the last five years, the state prosecutor has launched some 40 cases against journalists. PFC concluded that “the persecution of journalists covers up corruption, as its real intent is to frighten and silence those who carry out investigations.”
For further information on the case, including PFC’s letter to Judge Villalba Sánchez, see:
http://portal-pfc.org/perseguidos/2002/120.html
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Tuxtla Gutierrez First Criminal Court judge:
– asking him to exonerate Ksheratto or dismiss the case against the journalist outright
Appeals To
Judge Miguel Angel Villalba Sánchez
First Criminal Court
Ciudad de Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas
Tel/Fax: +52 961 614 33 61Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
