Mexico: Journalists threatened by private individuals in Veracruz; press freedom group demands security protocols

An organization defending freedom of expression has condemned attacks against four journalists in Boca del Río, Veracruz, Mexico. Private individuals, allegedly residents of the Graciano Sánchez neighborhood, threatened and verbally assaulted the reporters while they were covering a search operation.

The journalists, Sergio Aldazaba from Imagen Veracruz and Manuel Monroy, Víctor Yáñez, and Rubén Santos from Veracruz en Alerta, were reportedly threatened and intimidated on July 1 around 9 p.m. According to Aldazaba and Monroy, authorities had concluded their operation and left, but as the journalists remained to document and gather testimonies, a group of people began to harass them.

Video shared by Veracruz en Alerta shows individuals using profanity and demanding the journalists stop recording and leave the area. The outlet reported that over 15 people were involved in the aggression, some carrying objects like stones and apparent bladed weapons. "With pushes and threats, they demanded we leave the place and stop recording, so, safeguarding our physical integrity, we decided to withdraw," Veracruz en Alerta stated on Facebook.

Artículo 19, the press freedom organization, highlighted that the journalists decided not to return to the area due to fear of reprisals and the lack of safe conditions to practice their profession. The organization urged local and state authorities in Veracruz to implement security protocols for the press and develop mechanisms to anticipate risks journalists face during operations. They also called on the State Commission for Victim Assistance to contact the affected journalists to inform them of their rights to attention and protection.

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Between pushes and threats, they demanded we leave the place and stop recording, so, safeguarding our physical integrity, we decided to withdraw.