By Alejandro Martínez
The director and staff of freedom of the press organization Article 19 in Mexico received on April 19 a letter containing threats.
The organization published in its site a photograph of the letter, which seems to be addressed to the director of the organization Darío Ramírez. The letter threatens to beat Ramírez up until "his heart stops."
"You know who we are and we can really do it," the letter said.
The letter doesn't explain the reason for the threats but in a video message, Ramírez said that, "according to it content, it's a threat that suggests that we're making someone uncomfortable with the work that we're doing."
"We're worried, no doubt we're worried, we take threats to this office with absolute seriousness," Ramírez said.
The Committtee to Protect Journalists called authorities to investigate the threats promptly.
"Mexican authorities must launch an exhaustive investigation into this threat and bring those responsible to justice," said CPJ Senior Americas Program Coordinator Carlos Lauría. "The authorities have a responsibility to ensure that journalists and defenders of press freedom can work without fear for their safety."
This is not the first time that the organization has been threatened, Article 19 said.
Ramírez said his staff has taken safety measures to protect themselves, is working with Mexico's program to protect journalists and has reported the incident to Mexican authorities and the Organization of American States' Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression.
Despite the incident, Ramírez said the organization will continue with its regular duties reporting attacks on freedom of the press.
"No job is worth a life, no story is worth a life, but we will continue doing our job diligently, with all the necessary safety precautions," Ramírez said.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
