Lydia Cacho, a well-known Mexican journalist and human rights defender, is reportedly being followed by an unknown, armed man who has been seen outside her house on several occasions in the last few days.
Cacho told London-based ARTICLE 19 that a blue and silver 2008 Chevrolet motor vehicle has been seen at different hours in front of her house. Witnesses have described the driver as a robust man, approximately 1.60 metres tall, with dark skin. He has been seen getting out of the car on a number of occasions to take photographs of the journalist’s home and car. The man is also allegedly carrying a semi-automatic gun at his lower back.
Cacho has filed a report with local authorities who are now investigating the situation and who have ascertained that the vehicle’s number plates do not correspond with the model of car.
Cacho is an outspoken defender of human rights and minority voices in Mexico, a country where journalists and media workers are regularly threatened, attacked or killed for doing their jobs. In 2005, she published a book–The Demons of Eden, the Power Protecting Child Pornography–which revealed the existence of a child pornography ring operating with the protection of politicians and businessmen.
Following the release of this book, Cacho was subjected to arbitrary detention, harassment, torture, and illegal extradition to another state. No one has been brought to justice for these crimes. Cacho has continued her journalistic work, investigating and writing on a number of human rights issues, such as violence against women, corruption and the sexual exploitation of children.
Cacho receives periodic death threats on her blog (www.lydiacacho.net). One of the most recent messages states: “Lydia Cacho: the moment when you are going to turn up dead is coming soon; soon you will turn up decapitated.”
Dr Agnès Callamard, ARTICLE 19 Executive Director, said, “The incidents reported by Lydia Cacho are particularly worrying in light of the failure of the Mexican State to protect her in the past and of the general climate of violence the media is facing in the country.”
ARTICLE 19 called on the Government of Mexico to adopt all necessary measures to guarantee the security of Lydia Cacho, in accordance with its international human rights obligations. In particular ARTICLE 19 demanded:
- The Government – through its highest level representative, President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa – assumes full responsibility for Cacho’s protection, and publicly offers all security guarantees to her;
- A direct and permanent line of communication with the Ministry of the Interior–including with Minister Fernando Gómez Mont–is set up in order to ensure Cacho’s overall safety and security and proper follow-up on any threats against her; and
- The authorities immediately establish the identity of the owner of the vehicle seen outside Cacho’s home, so that these incidents may be properly investigated.
