"[Sheila] Arias, based in the coastal resort city of Mazatlán, told [the Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ] that she had received threats in connection with a Jan. 26 post on her Facebook page about a real estate project in the area currently requesting a permit from the Mexican federal government.
Arias reported that she received a message from a local businessman who identified himself as the 'owner of the project,' which Arias later confirmed. The man asked her to take down the publication or he would take legal steps against her, adding that he 'knows her bosses' and 'knows many things about her.' Arias said she also received a message with photos of her residence from an Instagram account bearing the name 'Punta Nama.' CPJ has reviewed the messages.
According to Arias, the project, named Punta Nama, would have a significant impact on the environment in the immediate surroundings of the construction zone, including on one of the few remaining wetlands in the area. In the post, Arias called on local authorities and the public to carefully and critically review the project."
