Mexico’s President Vows to Step Up Protections for Journalists<br />President Enrique Peña Nieto’s pledge to replace Mr. Nájera<br />and ensure funding for a federal protection program for threatened journalists follows several critical reports accusing the government of complicity in attacks on the news media and of an inability — or unwillingness — to investigate cases.<br />By AZAM AHMEDMAY 5, 2017<br />MEXICO CITY — Faced with a wave of deadly attacks against journalists, the president of Mexico has vowed to take concrete steps to ensure the safety<br />of journalists in his country, including removing the lead prosecutor responsible for investigating crimes against the freedom of expression.<br />Mr. Nájera, in interviews late last year, said that most of the cases involving journalists had nothing to do with the issues related to the freedom of expression,<br />and that was why his office investigated so few cases.<br />And yet there is near total impunity for the attackers, in part<br />because the special office responsible for prosecuting cases involving the freedom of expression rarely brings anyone to justice for the crimes.<br />Ricardo Nájera, the lead prosecutor, has repeatedly failed to take on cases, including homicides, in which evidence exists<br />that the victim’s reporting and writing had provoked the wrath of attackers.<br />Since its creation in 2010, the office has examined more than 800 cases of serious crimes but has won only two convictions.
