The month of May has barely begun when Mexico has already buried its ninth journalist murdered since January 1. The lifeless body of Luis Enrique Ramirez was found Thursday morning May 5 near Culiacan, capital of the state of Sinaloa, where he had been practicing for four decades.
Ninth death in 2022
Newspaper columnist The Culiacan Debate and founder of the Fuentes Fidedignas news site, Luis Enrique Ramirez, 59, was a well-known local and national journalist. He had started in the profession at the age of 17, devoting himself first to cultural subjects before rubbing shoulders with social issues and politics.
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His body was discovered beyond doubt as to the cause of death. “This is definitely an assassination. The body was discovered in the vicinity of Culiacan, wrapped in plastic,” said Balbina Flores, Reporters Without Borders representative in Mexico.
In his last article, Luis Enrique Ramirez (“LER”, for his relatives) had recounted having been insulted in a restaurant where he was having a meal with a local official. “I feel the imminent danger of being next, because in four recent assassinations there are commonalities in which I find myself”, he confided, not long ago, to a radio.
Sinaloa, one of the states most affected by violence
The state in which he worked, Sinaloa, is one of the most violent in the country. Located in the country’s northwest on the Pacific coast, it saw the rise of the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, founded by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is currently serving a life sentence in the United States.
In October 2019, the capture of one of the godfather’s sons, Ovidio, sparked violent clashes between soldiers and armed civilians in Culiacan. Ovidio Guzman was finally released on the orders of President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador, with the aim of restoring order.
But the violence continues: 600 people were murdered last year in Sinaloa, and 110 since the beginning of the year. Violence that does not spare the media: Luis Enrique Ramirez is the third journalist murdered in five years in this state. His death occurred a few days before the fifth anniversary of that of Javier Valdez, journalist and author, who shocked Mexican opinion on May 15, 2017.
Mexico, a dangerous country for journalists
Despite the demonstrations and outbursts of anger, nothing helped: Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries for press card holders. According to Reporters Without Borders, around 150 journalists have been killed since 2000.
After several dark years ending with a death toll of around ten, the situation seemed to improve, slightly, with eight murders in 2020 and seven last year. But 2022 is already shaping up to be particularly dark: Luis Enrique Ramirez is the ninth journalist murdered since January 1.
Yet the profession has been mobilizing for years to demand an end to impunity. It also advocates for more effective protective measures. Under President Felipe Calderon, in power from 2006 to 2012, a mechanism was put in place – emergency button, close guard, etc. – but it is clearly insufficient.
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“We will strengthen security measures for journalists. There will be no impunity,” Mexican government spokesman Jesus Ramirez promised on Twitter. Without convincing. As a sign of protest, a rally was planned for Friday morning in front of Culiacan Cathedral, at the call of the Sinaloa Human Rights Commission.