MEXICAN President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador yesterday accused United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken of “interfering”, after he called for greater accountability over a string of journalist murders.

The rare public spat with US President Joe Biden’s administration follows the killing of at least five media workers in one of the most dangerous countries for reporters in the world this year.

“The high number of journalists killed in Mexico this year and the ongoing threats they face are concerning,” tweeted Blinken on Tuesday.

“I join those calling for greater accountability and protections for Mexican journalists. My heart goes out to the loved ones of those who gave their lives for the truth.”

In response, Lopez Obrador urged Blinken “to inform yourself and not act in an interfering manner as Mexico is not a colony of the US, nor is it a protectorate.”

He told reporters he thought Blinken is “misinformed because otherwise he would be acting in bad faith”, insisting that the Mexican government is dealing with crimes against journalists.

“In all cases, action is being taken. There is no impunity,” he said, adding that he has asked his foreign minister to send Blinken details of all the cases and the government’s actions.

The foreign minister then shared a letter on Twitter addressed to his US counterpart in which he detailed the investigations into these crimes, while stressing his government can only hold accountable “Mexican citizens and Mexican institutions”.

He then raised the problem of arms trafficking from the US, which, the document argues, “are used in most of the homicides committed in Mexico and that, presumably, were also used against journalists”.

Mexico has maintained cordial relations with Biden’s administration, although there has been friction on certain issues such as Lopez Obrador’s planned energy sector reforms.

The Latin American nation is on course for one of its deadliest years yet for the press, prompting calls from media rights groups for authorities to end a culture of impunity.

Around 150 journalists have been murdered in Mexico since 2000, and only a fraction of the crimes have resulted in convictions, according to watchdog Reporters without Borders (RSF).

RSF on Wednesday said it is looking into whether the suspected murder of a television presenter whose body was found in a rural area of Mexico City was linked to her journalism.

Mexican media named her as Michell Perez Tadeo, 29, a single mother who was also an actress and model.

The Mexico City prosecutor’s office said its femicide investigation team is in charge of the case and various lines of inquiry are being pursued. – AFP, February 24, 2022.