(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is expressing its deep concern for the safety of Jesús Barraza, editor of the weekly magazine “Pulso” in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora State. On 4 May 1999, at 9 p.m., as Barraza was leaving the “Pulso” offices, a well-dressed man walked up to him, and told him that Albino Quintero Meraz, […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is expressing its deep concern for the safety of Jesús
Barraza, editor of the weekly magazine “Pulso” in San Luis Río Colorado,
Sonora State.
On 4 May 1999, at 9 p.m., as Barraza was leaving the “Pulso” offices, a
well-dressed man walked up to him, and told him that Albino Quintero Meraz,
a reputed drug
trafficker, was disturbed about two articles “Pulso” had recently published.
The man asked how much money Barraza wanted for not publishing stories on
Quintero anymore; if he did not accept the offer, the man said, he or
another “Pulso” reporter would end up floating dead in one of San Luis Río
Colorado’s irrigation canals. When Barraza said he would never accept money
from Quintero, the man warned him to be careful.
The articles the messenger referred to followed up on information made
public by the Attorney General’s office on alleged cooperation between
Quintero and former Quintana Roo Governor Mario Villanueva, who is wanted
for links with drug traffickers. The articles reported information about
Quintero’s past, including the fact that a police search of his house in
Mexicali, Baja California State, in 1989, turned up drugs and rifles and
that in 1992 two men had accused Quintero of assaulting them with the aid of
the Federal Judicial Police in San Luis Río Colorado.
According to CPJ’s information, police protection was granted to Barraza and
his family after the Mexican press organization Sociedad de Periodistas
intervened on his behalf on 10 May. Yet CPJ fears for the safety of Barraza
and his family.
CPJ’s concern is compounded by the sudden and unexplained 5 March release
from prison of drug trafficker Jaime González Gutiérrez. He was accused of
having masterminded the 15 June 1997 murder of Benjamín Flores González,
editor and publisher of the San Luis Río Colorado daily “La Prensa”. After
Flores González’s murder, Barraza took over as editor of the paper; González
Gutiérrez had Barraza threatened repeatedly, both by telephone and in
writing. (In March 1998, Barraza and six colleagues left “La Prensa” and set
up “Pulso”).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
Constitution
the federal government is responsible for the protection of freedom of
expression
family,
to conduct a complete investigation into the threats against the journalist,
and to see to it that the perpetrators are punished
Appeals To
Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de Leon
President of Mexico
Los Pinos
Mexico City, MEXICO
Fax: + 52 5 395 6790
E-mail page: http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/pages/f_forma.html
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
