Mexico City, May 4 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto congratulated journalists in Mexico on the International Day of Freedom of Expression, a statement that was widely criticized in social media and other networks as cynical and hypocritical as the country has the lowest rating in Latin American for freedom of press and is one of the most dangerous countries in the world to exercise the profession.
In 2014, over 325 journalist suffered aggressions by both state bodies as well as organized crime, while five reporters were killed due to their work, according to international organization Article 19. The number of deaths is high considering that 61 journalist were killed around the world last year. So, Peña Nieto's statement that “the free expression of ideas is a social conquest that must not be given up and that today forms part of our democracy” actually does seem quite hypocritical, considering all the aggressions against media, including the recent firing of famous Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui and two of her research writers from media outlet MVS for exposing a corruption scandal involving the president.
“Did you congratulate Carmen Aristegui so that you can properly speak of freedom of expression you cynical ...”, said Wellman de la Cruz in La Jornada. “You are vulgar and shameless, and as all politicians you find it easy to lie. Ask the people of Mexico what they think about your congratulations ... traitor to the country,” said Armando Barradas, in another of numerous statements against the president.
Article 19 recently published a report revealing that press freedom in Mexico faces widespread and growing threats from what they called “soft censorship” that includes government use of financial incentives and penalties to pressure news media, punish critical reporting, and reward favorable coverage.
“While Mexican journalists are frequently targets of physical attack, soft censorship is another more subtle and very significant danger to press freedom,” the London-based organization stated.
