The Washington Post writes about the near blackout of any coverage of the drug war along the Mexico-U.S. border.
Two weeks ago, Mexican soldiers clashed in Nuevo Laredo with drug cartel gangsters in running gun battles that lasted five hours. The outlaws hijacked vehicles, including a bus, for use as barricades and battering rams. Terrified residents scrambled for safety. At least a dozen people were killed, including bystanders. Children were wounded in the crossfire.
….yet none of this was reported in the Nuevo Laredo media because journalists feared for their safety.
A free press is a more valuable component of a democracy than many in this country appreciate. The news is covered, perspectives given and a variety of voices can be heard over the numerous outlets available in this country.
Criminals, thugs, dictators and corrupt politicians know this and always want to control the media. Unfortunately in Mexico, they are currently successful in doing so.
According to the Washington Post, Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries for a reporter to work in. More than 30 journalists have been killed or have disappeared since President Felipe Calderón launched his U.S.-backed offensive against organized crime in December 2006. More than 25,000 Mexicans have died.
The Post reports that “last Monday, four journalists were kidnapped after they covered a protest at a penitentiary where the warden allegedly armed inmates and allowed them to leave the prison at night to carry out assassinations, including a massacre last month of 17 young people attending a party in a nearby town.”
NPR is also doing a series this week on the Mexican drug cartels: Mexico’s Drug War More Sophisticated, Deadlier