Journalist José Luis Hernández Salas, former director of the daily “El Independiente”, of Hermosillo, Sonora (northeastern Mexico), received death threats from the governor of Sonora, Armando Lopez Nogales. The governor’s intent is to have Hernández Salas illegally removed from “El Independiente”, in order to put the paper at the service of the presidential campaign of […]
Journalist José Luis Hernández Salas, former director of the daily “El Independiente”, of Hermosillo, Sonora (northeastern Mexico), received death threats from the governor of Sonora, Armando Lopez Nogales. The governor’s intent is to have Hernández Salas illegally removed from “El Independiente”, in order to put the paper at the service of the presidential campaign of Francisco Labastida Ochoa, candidate for the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional, PRI). In the face of these threats, Hernández Salas and his family were forced to flee Mexico and take refuge in the United States.
The governor´s harassment of the journalist began on 17 June 1999 when he invited Hernández Salas to dinner at the Sonora Steak restaurant in Hermosillo. At the restaurant, the governor promised to inject large amounts of money into “El Independiente” and make it the most important daily in the northeast of Mexico, on the condition that the daily put all of its energy into supporting his friend Labastida Ochoa, the PRI presidential candidate. Hernández Salas flatly rejected the proposal and the governor threatened that he would achieve his goal regardless of the obstacles.
Three months later this threat became a reality. On 3 September, an attempt was made to strip Hernández Salas of his position at “El Independiente”. Representatives from the company The Voice of Sonora (La Voz de Sonora), a minor shareholder of “El Independiente”, came to the
paper with a locksmith in tow, to remove Hernández Salas from his post and install Jesús Orozco Morales as the new director. Hernández Salas managed to block this action and on 5 September published a front-page editorial entitled “Conspiracy Against ‘El Independiente'”. The following day, he lodged a formal complaint with the office of the attorney general charging misappropriation of his goods, extortion, criminal conspiracy, damages and threats. That very evening, The Voice of Sonora responded by initiating legal proceedings, that CENCOS believes were unfounded and without legal merit, to remove Hernández Salas from the paper.
The Sonora courts allowed the case against the journalist to proceed in direct violation of his rights, when this was essentially a business matter. In the early hours of 7 September, approximately twenty police officers led by Chief Gelasio Gayoso of the Sonora Judicial Police,
surrounded both the offices of “El Independiente” and the journalistâs house to apprehend him. They cut the electricity and water supply to the house and maintained a close watch throughout the day, during which time Hernández Salas was hounded by death threats over the phone. On 8 September, the journalist managed to slip by police officers watching his house and he escaped to
the United States. He currently finds himself in exile there and continues to fear for his and his family’s life.
On 30 November, Hernández Salas lodged a demand to the House of Representatives for political hearings against Governor Lopez Nogales. Consequently, he received a verbal death threat from the governor through an emissary sent to his lawyer.
Hernández Salas would like to return to Hermosillo in order to continue with legal proceedings, retake control of his possessions, and allow his family to return to a normal life. To accomplish this he seeks the solidarity of organizations committed to defending freedom of expression.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the governor of Sonora:
– asking him to put an end to the persecution and harassment of Hernández Salas and his family
– urging him to respect the journalist’s and his family’s physical and psychological well being, and noting that you will hold him accountable for any further attempts against the journalist
– asking that he demonstrate his commitment to Articles 6 and 7 of the Mexican Constitution, which guarantee freedom of expression and access to information, by allowing Hernández Salas to safely return to Sonora so that the journalist can continue with legal proceedings which will allow him to retake control of his possessions
Send appeals to the attorney general:
– asking for an impartial and expeditious investigation into the complaint filed by the journalist on 6 September, charging misappropriation of goods, extortion, criminal conspiracy, damages and threats
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Armando Lopez Nogales
Governor of the State of Sonora
Dr. Paliza 26, entre Comonfort y Ocampo
Col. Centenario. C.P. 83260
Hermosillo, Sonora
Mexico
Tel: + 1 62 12 00 01 / 12 00 51
Fax: +1 62 13 22 15 / 13 32 43
Miguel Angel Cortés Ibarra
Attorney General of the State of Sonora
Edificio Soto, first floor
Rosales y Boulevard Ãlvaro Obregon s/n
Col. Centro
Hermosillo, Sonora
Mexico
Fax: +1 62 17 51 36
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
