Campeche Newspaper Shut Down Amidst Controversy and Legal Battles
The closure of a Campeche newspaper has ignited a storm of controversy, raising questions about press freedom and political influence. The shutdown follows a two-year legal battle involving the governor, and has drawn accusations of censorship.
The Shutdown
After five decades of reporting on the region, the Campeche newspaper, *Podium*, ceased its digital operations on June 13. This action stems from a court ruling favoring the governor’s daughter, Layda Elena Sansores San Román. The newspaper’s founder, Carlos Sansores Pérez, established it on June 11, 1975.
The governor, Sansores, had sued the Editorial Organization of the Southeast—the publisher of *Podium*—along with its former director, Jorge Luis González Valdez, and administrator Isidro Yerbes. The governor alleged incitement of hatred, violence, defamation, and slander.
State officials, including the State Secretary of Citizen Protection and Security, Marcela Muñoz Martínez, supported the suit. Furthermore, the State Government spokesperson, Walther Patron Bacab, sued *Podium* and González Valdez for moral damages.
“The complaint was seconded by the State Secretary of Citizen Protection and Security, Marcela Muñoz Martínez, for the same positions.”
— Original Article
Legal Actions and Consequences
Additionally, a civil judge ordered the seizure of property owned by González Valdez to secure payment of two million pesos, as compensation for the alleged “moral damage.” The court also sought information about the journalist’s vehicles to apply the same sanction.
On April 9, state police arrested González Valdez. He was charged with “fouls to authority” and causing injuries. The 71-year-old journalist was held for 48 hours, but was later released without charges. He was then linked to the process for the alleged crimes of hatred incitement and violence and forbidden from practicing journalism for two years.
The closure of the investigation is set for approximately two months, around August, when the final verdict will be delivered. In the meantime, the parties have options for their defense, such as appeals or amparo, meaning the ruling is not yet final.
Official Response and Controversy
However, Governor Sansores has rejected claims of censorship. She has accused the journalist of systematic attacks, claiming that the issue is not about freedom of expression, but freedom of aggression.
The legal actions against the newspaper and journalist raise concerns about press freedom. According to a 2023 report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, with impunity for crimes against them being a significant problem (CPJ).