(IFJ/IFEX) – Journalist Raymundo Rivapalacio, editor-in-chief of the “Milenio Diario” newspaper, has resigned from his post. Rivapalacio had been subjected to pressure from Martha Sahagún, President Vicente Fox’s wife, apparently because of the daily’s independent and critical editorial stance under his direction. Journalist Ramon Martínez de Velasco, director of a programme broadcast on the Radio […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – Journalist Raymundo Rivapalacio, editor-in-chief of the “Milenio Diario” newspaper, has resigned from his post. Rivapalacio had been subjected to pressure from Martha Sahagún, President Vicente Fox’s wife, apparently because of the daily’s independent and critical editorial stance under his direction.
Journalist Ramon Martínez de Velasco, director of a programme broadcast on the Radio Universidad station in Querétaro, alleged that Sahagún exerted pressure on Rivapalacio to force his resignation. She was acting in reprisal to a “Milenio Diario” report on the “outrageous” actions of one of her sons, who forced a commercial airliner en route to San Luis de Potosí to change destination and head instead to Guanajuato, “just to visit his father.”
Martínez Velasco added that there is much animosity towards Rivapalacio because previously, under the editor’s direction, “Milenio Diario” had reported on expenses incurred by the President’s Office for the purchase of towels, a case that came to be known as “towelgate”.
The publishers of “Milenio Diario” explained that Rivapalacio had resigned because of disagreements he had with the company and not because of external pressures.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
– calling on him to release a statement outlining his position on this case, which is considered by a great many sectors of Mexican society as an attack on press freedom
Appeals To
Vicente Fox
President
Republic of Mexico
E-mail: radio@presidencia.gob.mx / vfox@presidencia.gob.mx
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
