The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has made a formal appeal to Mexican authorities, urging them to investigate death threats issued against two journalists, Óscar Balderas and Luis Chaparro. The call for action, made public on July 4, comes amidst growing concerns over the safety of journalists reporting on organized crime in Mexico.
Jan-Albert Hoosten, CPJ’s representative in Mexico, strongly criticized the government for its lack of response. He remarked, “The brazen threats against Óscar Balderas and Luis Chaparro are part of an ongoing campaign to terrorize any journalist who provides in-depth reporting on organized crime in Mexico … These threats can only happen in a context of festering impunity for the country’s press, something Mexican authorities continue to fail to address.” The full details are accessible through this report by the CPJ.
Balderas reported receiving three anonymous calls threatening his life, along with a WhatsApp message advising him to “keep quiet.” Although Chaparro was not directly threatened, he was implicated in the communication to Balderas. Both journalists are known for their critical coverage of organized crime, and such threats came on the heels of another journalist, José Carlos González, being murdered in Acapulco.
Mexico’s ranking on the global press freedom index remains poor, with Reporters Without Borders placing it at 124 out of 180 countries. The country continues to be a perilous place for journalists, with three already killed this year. According to the Atlantic Council, Mexican journalists often work in harsh conditions, receiving low pay and sometimes engaging in risky or unethical behaviors to supplement their income.
The journalists have contacted the Federal Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, although neither has filed a police report yet. This situation is part of a broader pattern of attacks on press freedom and individual reporters in Mexico, highlighted by this Jurist report.