The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on Tuesday expressed alarm over a court verdict imposing a gag order on retired Mexican journalist Jorge Luis González Valdez and the newspaper Tribuna.
The CPJ called on Governor Layda Sansores of Campeche state to “immediately cease any judicial harassment” of González Valdez and Tribuna over coverage of her administration. The organization’s Mexico representative, Jan-Albert Hootsen, noted, “The verdict against Jorge Luis González is nothing less than a gag order that constitutes a clear case of the courts siding with a state governor in overt efforts to silence any critical reporting of her administration.”
The statement was released following a ruling by the Campeche state court ordering that the court must approve any article published by the newspaper Tribuna mentioning Campeche Governor Layda Sansores. The judge, Ana Maribel de Atocha Huitz May, also “ordered the judicial intervention of the digital platform.”
Additionally, former editorial director of the Tribuna, Jorge Luis González Valdez, was required to submit any material referring to Sansores to the court for review and approval. He must avoid making statements, expressing opinions, writing, or publishing images mentioning her. According to the ruling, overseen by the Precautionary Measures Unit and the Human Rights Body of the Superior Court of Justice, an “official censor” must accompany him during appearances on media programs. As González Valdez retired in 2017 after holding the editorial director position for 30 years and had no management positions at Tribuna‘s digital platform, it is unclear why he is targeted.
Tribuna, in response to the ruling, “rejects and condemns the censorship measures ordered by Judge Huitz May.” The publication has opted to pause publishing while the gag order remains in effect.
The present ruling is the latest in a series of legal proceedings launched against González Valdez and Tribuna by Governor Sansores and the state government of Campeche. Last month, González Valdez was charged with inciting hatred and violence against Sansores, and ordered to pay Sansores 2 million pesos (approximately USD $110,000) in “moral damages.” However, the sentence was suspended as González Valdez successfully filed an injunction.
Earlier this month, CPJ condemned the Mexican government for its failure to address threats against journalists. Reporters without Borders maintains that Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, ranking 124 out of 180 on the annual world press freedom index.
Hootsen stated, “CPJ is alarmed by the sharp increase in lawfare against critical media in Mexico, where journalists continue to be attacked with almost complete impunity.”
Human rights organization Article 19 identifies the case against González Valdez and Tribuna as part of a “pattern of institutional abuse aimed at silencing criticism and restricting public debate,” by imposing restrictions that violate the right to freedom of expression.
