Archive for category Media
Mexican Cameraman Makes a New Life for Himself After Receiving Political Assylum
Posted by kristinjones28 in Drug Trafficking, Immigration, Journalism, Media on February 29, 2012
02/27/2012- On July 26, 2010, Alejandro Hernández Pacheco, 42, went to work like it was just another day on the job. A cameraman for Televisa in Torreon, Hernández and a reporter were sent to cover a news story in Gomez Palacio, Durango about killings connected to a prison in the city. Hernández was not scheduled to work off-studio that day. “After leaving the prison, the two men were carjacked, bound, blindfolded and taken to a home with two other kidnapped journalists, where the men were allegedly tortured, starved and beaten.”(El Paso Times) They were held captive for five days and were threatened with death by their captors, who were members of the Sinaloa drug cartel. On July 31, 2010, the captors freed Hernández and the other men early in the morning. They were told to run and not to look back. A group of armed policemen were waiting for them in the secluded area of Gomez Palacio, near where they were released.
Just hours after their release, the men were told they were going to be flown to meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderón to be hailed as heroes. However, much to their surprise, they were greeted by dozens of Mexican and international journalists and cameras. According to Hernández’s attorney, Carlos Spector, by doing this, the federal government “recklessly exhibited Hernández as a potential witness against the Sinaloa cartel and put his life in danger” (El Paso Times). This, as well as Hernández’s fear about speaking out publicly against the Mexican government, for failing to protect him, led him to his decision to move to El Paso, Texas.
In August 2010, Hernández moved to the United States with a valid laser visa, and his family followed shortly after. After arriving, he applied for political asylum, which he was granted in August 2011, being the second Mexican journalist to receive the immigration benefit since the beginning of the current wave of drug violence that is rocking the nation. Just shortly after being granted political asylum, Hernández called Univision, a news company in El Paso, left his resume, and was hired right away. In an interview, Hernández said he is doing what he “loves most, which is looking for the news camera in hand,” and even though he misses his home in Torreon, he and his family feel lucky that they can feel safe here and not worry for their lives. (Borderzine)
Photo Credit: Victoria A. Perez/Borderzine.com
“Anonymous Mexico’s,” Operation’s in Taking on their Politicians and Cartel’s
Posted by kevinsantamaria in Culture, Drug Trafficking, Media, Politics, Security on February 10, 2012
A new global phenomenon is proliferating across the world, known as “Anonymous” or “Anon” for short. Anonymous is a group of anonymous individuals without a leader or any actual organizational structure who work to take down what they believe to be corrupt institutions by hacking into, defacing and protesting their targets means of communication. The media has labeled them, “hacktivist” (a portmanteau of hacker and activist). Their lack of structure, anonymity to the public and anonymity within the group itself and their ability to still coordinate their attacks make them difficult to combat.
They were originally derived from a group of young individual looking to play pranks with the ability to hide in the shadows of anonymity (to learn more about their history click here). After several public and online stunts though, it seems other began to look at anonymity not so much as a way of hiding but as forum to surpass censorship and expose corruption, while avoiding prosecution. With the radical idea of Anonymity as a tool for influence, they took to the Middle East during the Arab Spring to shut down several government websites in Tunisia and Egypt. They also claim responsibility for restoring the Internet back to the Egyptian people during their revolution.
Anonymous’ recent actions have been able to make national and less often, international headlines. Recently they have defaced the Prime Minister of Poland’s website page after signing onto the Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA). They have threatened to release archives of stolen emails concerning a controversial U.S. raid in Iraq in response to a call they intercepted from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to take down Anonymous hackers. In Greece they have protested on the justice ministries website proclaiming to the Government, “You have joined the IMF against your people’s acquiescence, you have so introduced a new dictatorship upon your people’s shoulder’s and allowed the bankers and the monarchs of the EU to enslave them both economically and politically.” Less recently, they have even attacked Brazil’s largest bank sites to call attention to the countries corruption and inequality. Thus with everyone having the ability to be anonymous, speaking every language and knowing everyone, it seems only inevitable that they show up in Mexico.
Anonymous operations in Mexico have been aimed against the government and the cartels. Anonymous began operations in Mexico on the 15th of September, the independence day of Mexico. One of the biggest hits came to the website of the Defense Ministry. Their video message was clear, “We demonstrate to the government and drug trafficking groups that we will not allow more violence and insecurity and let them know Mexican Anonymous.” Their message drew a parallel calling it the independence of the Federal Government and not of the people because while officials are celebrating, they continue to drown out the voices of the people who continuously helplessly live enscribed in the terror of organized crime. The following awareness campaign for Mexico consisted of “paper storm,” an international campaign that encourages member to take to the streets of their cities with paper flyers. It was then found out that during a paper storm, one of the members of Anonymous was kidnapped by the Los Zetas cartel while posting flyer’s around Veracruz. In response Anonymous posted a video to Los Zetas, threatening to release the information of all the taxi driver’s, journalist, newspapers, and police officers who have and continue to collaborate with them. After several published concerns from Mexican and US intelligence officials that Anonymous’ act would not so much lead to the arrest of the collaborators as intended, but make them targets of the Los Zetas competing cartel’s. They soon decided to revoke their plan of action.
“Anonymous” refuses to lay dormant on all issues it sees threatening though. Their knew fight, which governments everywhere seem to be pursuing is establishing stricter intellectual property (IP) rights. IP rights seem to be making headline everywhere because whistleblower’s like Wikileaks and Anonymous (who often work in ‘sync) have brought it to the public’s attention. The common theme when establishing stricter rules of law on IP rights has been the amount of power if gives the authorities to censor, incriminate, and fine individuals. Recently Senator Frederico Doring proposed a law that could fine individuals over 100,000 dollars (one million pesos) for online copyright infringement. Anonymous responded by blocking access to the Mexican Senate and Interior Ministry websites. Critics say the proposed law is similar to a bill introduced in the United States known as SOPA that faced a mutiny of opposition after it was publicly advertised, eventually leading to its failure. Anonymous has not necessarily been able to create any direct action but they have been able to change the national conversation. Though their plan of action against Los Zetas cartel was abandoned, the cartel obviously found them a big enough threat to kidnap one of their members as a means of intimidation to Anonymous members. As for the government the only thing they can do is try to enforce stronger internet policies, but with the public opposition and whistleblower’s like Wikileaks and Anonymous looking to inform the public it seems unlikely, unless a law passes in the utmost secrecy. This too seems highly unlikely though as gettingt ride of hacktivism and anonymity are like trying to get ride of your shadow, for Anonymous always claims “We are anonymous, we are legion, we don’t forgive, we don’t forget, united as one, divided as zero, expect us.”
Telecommunications Merger in Question-Mexico City
Posted by kristinjones28 in Business, Media on February 1, 2012
Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Competencia (CFC-Federal Competition Commission) met January 24, 2012, to discuss the proposed merger between Televisa and mobile operator, lusacell. The meeting of the full commission is reported to have started at noon and lasted over six hours; all five of the commissioners were present for the meeting. As of yesterday, January 31, 2012, it was reported that it could be “hours or days” before the official decision of the CFC would be made known to the public. Eduardo Pérez Motta, an official of the commission, explained, “The [Commission] will inform the public of its decision once it meets the requirement of notification.” (El Universel)
The commission stated that by order of the last paragraph of Article 31 bis of the Ley Federal de Competencia (Federal Law on Competition), the CFC and all its officials are unable to speak out publicly until the concerned companies have been notified of the decision.
The merger in question is reported to include Televisa purchasing 50% of lusacell’s shares, a transaction valued at approximately $600 million. (Villarreal)
According to El Universel, analysts and executives believe that only under strict regulatory conditions imposed on both Televisa and lusacell, could there be conditions created for improving competition in the markets involved.
In an interview with Milenio this morning, Eduardo Ruiz Vega, director of Regulatory Compliance for lusacell, announced the CFC would give its notification of the decision to the company around noon today. He did not specify at which office the notification would be given, or the exact time.
It has been reported that today the custodial staff of lusacell tried to prevent the entry of CFC officials notifying the company of the commission’s decision. La Jornada reported that, until yesterday, the house number of the company’s office had been 460, but today it had been changed to 409, and the company’s logo had been removed. These measures were presumably taken under the intention of not receiving the notification.
Officers of the Policía Federal had to assist the representatives of the CFC so they could enter the lusacell facilities. The building’s security had allowed only one representative to enter when two witnesses were needed; before they were granted access, some shoving and jostling took place because security guards claimed that lusacell is private property.
To remain compliant, the CFC has until February 7 to announce its official decision, which states the notification must be made within 12 days but can also be made as early as tomorrow, February 2, 2012.
While officials have not been able to discuss the decision publicly, sources closely involved with the process have reported that the merger was rejected during a vote with three votes against and two in favor. (Ramiro)
Alonso, Ramiro. “Dificultan a CFC dar citatorio a Iusacell.” El Universal. February 1, 2012.
El Universal. “CFC resuelve sobre concentración Televisa-Iusacell.” El Universal. January 24, 2012.
Mexico attempts to boost tourism through a new kind of advertising
In order to attract more tourism and change negative perceptions about Mexico, the Mexico Tourism Board is following the model of the HBO series, “Taxicab Confessions” to promote hype about Mexican resorts. The commercials, titled, “Mexico Taxi Project,” install hidden cameras into cars taking American tourists home from the airport in cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia after vacationing in Mexico. The taxi drivers, who are actors, ask the passengers questions about their trips. In one commercial, the driver asks passengers returning from Cabo, “Oh and did you guys feel like safe and everything down there?” One man replied, “Totally safe,” and a woman added, “I would definitely recommend it. Everything you hear on the news is not what you experience down there.”
Gerardo Llanes, chief marketing officer at the Mexico Tourism Board in Mexico City stated, “We feel strongly that Americans talking to Americans about their experiences in Mexico would be stronger than a feel-good commercial.” He added that the decision behind using hidden-cameras was due to research showing that most tourists had positive experiences during their vacations. “We take the chance because we know how satisfied people are. The chances of negatives are so small,” he said.
For the commercials, tourists were approached at airports in Mexico, and again after landing back at home. Potential participants were “screened” at the ticket counter to see if they would be good candidates for the commercials. “Screeners” looked for “bubbly,” outgoing people traveling in groups. Candidates were then told that they wanted their opinions on a new brand of tequila, and if they did so they would receive free rides home in limos. Once reaching home, the passengers were told that they had been on camera, and were asked to sign release forms for the ads.
About a dozen of the conversations will be edited into a 30-second commercial to be aired on nine channels including National Geographic Channel, the Discovery Channel, and the USA Network. Some of the conversations can be viewed at www.mexicotaxiproject.com.
Tijuana journalist honored with international courage award
Posted by amarie089 in Drug Trafficking, Media, Violence on October 31, 2011
Three journalists who have kept reporting despite repeated violent threats have been awarded by the International Women’s Media Foundation. According to the organization, the Courage in Journalism awards “honor women journalists who have shown extraordinary strength of character and integrity while reporting under dangerous circumstances.” One of these was Tijuana journalist Adela Navarro Bello. The 43 year old editor of Tijuana weekly Zeta received death threats for covering news on drug trafficking in Baja California. The other recipients were Parisa Hafezi, bureau chief for Reuters in Tehran, Iran, and Chiranuch Premchaiporn of Thailand. Hafezi was beaten after insisting to cover the story of anti-government protests, and agents raided her home. Premachaiporn faces possibly 20 years in prison in Thailand for allowing people to post critical comments about the monarchy on her publication.
During her speech, Navarro stated that in the past five years, 68 journalists have been killed and 12 are missing in Mexico. Because journalists face such dangers, she stated that it has created “self-censorship by reporters and superficial coverage of the drug trade.” Additionally, in the past 23 years, three staff members of the weekly Zeta have been killed, and these “still haven’t even been partially resolved,” Navarro said. “In my country, it’s possible to kill a reporter and nothing will happen to you,” adding that 95 percent of cases in Mexico where journalists are murdered, threatened, or disappear go unresolved.
“Editor of Tijuana’s Zeta weekly honored.” San Diego Union-Tribune. 29 October, 2011.
“International journalists honored with courage awards.” LA Times. 25 October, 2011.
“Premian el valor de periodista mexicana.” Vanguardia. 28 October, 2011.
Mexico newspapers ban sex ads to combat human trafficking
Two of Mexico’s largest newspapers, El Universal and Reforma, stated on Tuesday that they would stop including most of the sex ads that had been featured in their tabloids in order to combat the trafficking of women and children in Mexico. The nation ranks fifth for number of trafficking victims in Latin America. Executive producer of El Universal, Juan Francisco Ealy Ortiz, said, “We call on the journalistic community to close the door to criminals, not just in the commercial sphere, and not just in newspapers and magazines.” He also stated that the company would offer free advertising space for organizations fighting against human trafficking. Both newspapers continue to feature ads for phone sex services, but have eliminated escort-style ads that before frequented their tabloids.
Many other Mexican newspapers continue to run escort ads with such proposals as, “24 hours of pleasure,” “only 18 years old!” or “school girls.” Human rights groups condemn these sorts of ads for strengthening the market for sexual services that include women and children who have been forced into prostitution. Coalition Against Trafficking of Women and Children in Latin American and the Caribbean estimates that about a half-million women and children suffer commercial sexual exploitation in Mexico. A large proportion of them are migrants from Central America and poor women from rural Mexico who are forced into the sex industry because of poverty, deception, or kidnapping. Many organized gangs of pimps specialize in forcing young women into prostitution and exporting them to the United States.
Human rights groups hope that other newspapers will follow the example of El Universal and Reforma. Teresa Ulluoa, director of Coalition Against Trafficking said, “There are times when in some outlying states, the main newspapers in the states will have four pages of news and eight pages of sex ads.”
Government support for the ban by the newspapers was also strong, and many said that this marked a recognition of the social responsibility that the media has. Senator Manlio Fabio Beltrones of the Institutional Revolutionary Party recognized the act as supportive of Mexico’s 2007 law against human trafficking, “Today El Universal makes an important step that makes legislation effective.”
In July, Mexican security forces arrested more than 1,000 people with alleged links to human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Ciudad Juarez, and other locations on the US-Mexico border.
De la luz Gonzalez, Maria. “Contra el trafico de personas.” El Universal. 20 September, 2011.
“Major Mexican papers ban sex ads to combat trafficking.” BBC News. 20 September, 2011.
