(CENCOS/IFEX) – Once again, the city of San Luis Río Colorado, in Sonora (North-Eastern Mexico) is the scene of attacks against press freedom. The Mexican Human Rights Academy’s Programme for the Protection of Journalists (Programa de Proteccion a Periodistas de la Academia Mexicana de Derechos Humanos) has reported that Humberto Melgoza and Santiago Barroso, editor […]
(CENCOS/IFEX) – Once again, the city of San Luis Río Colorado, in Sonora (North-Eastern Mexico) is the scene of attacks against press freedom. The Mexican Human Rights Academy’s Programme for the Protection of Journalists (Programa de Proteccion a Periodistas de la Academia Mexicana de Derechos Humanos) has reported that Humberto Melgoza and Santiago Barroso, editor and reporter for “La Prensa” daily, in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, have been subjected to intimidation.
On 6 July 2000, “La Prensa” daily reported that on the night of Tuesday 4 July municipal police officers detained Javier Lopez Angulo, also known as “Mi Niño”. After a long absence, Lopez Angulo had returned to the region to take over the post which controls drug trafficking in the area.
According to the “La Prensa” article, Lopez Angulo was detained for a traffic violation. However, he was carrying a 38 caliber pistol and two loaded cartridges, and as a result was taken to the police headquarters. Approximately one hour later, Carlos Ruiz Ruiz, of the Office of the Federal Public Prosecutor, arrived at the station and demanded that the detained and any reports that had been filled out be handed over to him. The officer on duty turned Lopez Angulo over to Ruiz Ruiz, who in turn allowed him to go free some hours afterwards.
Five days later, Ruiz Ruiz, was removed from his post and sent to Navojoa, Sonora. Ramon de la Puerta Cons, an officer of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, replaced him.
On 18 July, the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Violations against Public Health (Fiscalía Especial para la Atencion de Delitos contra la Salud, Feads), launched an investigation into the alleged role of the authorities in protecting drug traffickers. In connection with this investigation, Melgoza, editor of “La Prensa”, was summoned to testify in relation to Lopez Angulo’s release, before the Office of the Public Prosecutor for the Federation. Melgoza was told that a lawyer or another person of his choosing could accompany him to court and assist him in his presentation, if he deemed this necessary.
The inquiry was held on 24 July, before Apolina Miranda Guzmán, of the Office of the Public Prosecutor for the Federation. According to Melgoza’s testimony, Miranda asked him and reporter Barroso to reveal who had provided them with details on Lopez Angulo’s detention. Melgoza and Barroso refused to identify their source of information, explaining that the rules of their profession prohibited this. In turn, Miranda warned them that if they refused to name their sources, they could be found guilty of obstructing justice.
Melgoza and Barroso feel that the public prosecutor’s warning and the questions made during the hearing were meant to be intimidating, and as a result the journalists fear for their safety.
A little more than three years ago, the then editor of “La Prensa”, Benjamín Flores González, was assassinated after the newspaper reported on the activities of alleged drug trafficker Jaime González Gutiérrez. Although a number of individuals were arrested under suspicion of having played a role in the crime, a satisfactory solution to the case has still not been reached (see IFEX alerts of 9 November 1999, 8 December, 17 November and 16 July 1997).
Furthermore, in 1998, journalist Jesús Barraza, editor of the weekly “Pulso”, received a number of death threats from drug trafficker Albino Quintero Meraz and from officers of the federal judicial police, and was forced to close the weekly and retire from the journalistic profession (see IFEX alerts of 22 November, 6 October, 12 July, 15 and 10 June and 14 and 13 May 1999).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– urging them to provide guarantees for the safety of Melgoza and Barroso
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Lic. Armando Lopez Nogales
Governor of the State of Sonora
Dr. Paliz 26, between Comonfort and Ocampo
Col. Centenario
83260 Hermosillo, Sonora
Fax: +262 17 41 26
Lic. Jorge Madrazo Cuéllar
Office of the Attorney General
Fax: +53 46 09 01 / 53 46 01 16
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
