Country justice, or how to turn a newspaper into a pamphlet with supervision
It seems that in Campeche democracy is measured in silences per minute. A local judge, in a burst of legal creativity worthy of a reality show, decided that what the newspaper Tribuna needs is not more journalism, but a “legal auditor” (read: censor with a tie) to review every word before publishing it. The crime? Daring to mention Governor Layda Sansores without the proper reverential tone. How daring!
48 hours to deliver to the community manager… or will it be a human sacrifice?
As if it were a spy movie, Judge Edelmira Jaqueline Cervera Sánchez (a long name for a short sentence) demanded in record time the data of the media’s community manager. So that? To subject your memes and tweets to Stalin-style quality control. Of course, with a fine included: 5,657 pesos (which, curiously, is what a good microphone costs to shout injustices louder).
The media denounces that this is a blatant attempt to “inhibit criticism” before the Fourth Government Report. Wow, is anyone surprised? Sansores, who seems to confuse freedom of expression with “freedom to flatter me”, accused the journalist Jorge Luis González Valdez of inciting hatred. The tests? Well, that’s the least of it when you have a complacent prosecutor’s office.
Prohibited to work, prohibited to breathe, prohibited to exist
In a Kafkaesque twist, they first wanted to prohibit the journalist from practicing for two years (as if reporting were a crime), and then, after a provisional suspension, they opted for the ostrich strategy: “If you don’t talk about me, I don’t exist.” Judge Ana Maribel de Atocha Huitz May (yes, another name that seems like a literary prank) imposed the digital gag, because nothing says “transparent government” like silencing the press.
The only thing that is clear here is that in Campeche freedom of the press is in intensive care, with a diagnosis of “acute repression”. Meanwhile, the newspaper and the journalist are preparing an amparo, because apparently, in this state, defending the right to inform is like playing chess with a gorilla: the rules are set by whoever has the biggest stick.
What’s next? A veto to mention the weather if the governor doesn’t like clouds? In the meantime, readers can share this gem of legal surrealism and explore more stories where absurdity and authoritarianism go hand in hand. Because laughing is better than crying!
Are you outraged? Spread this article. Censorship only thrives when the public looks the other way.
