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WORLD NEWS Saturday 12 March 2022
Mexico irate at EU criticism of journalist, activist deaths

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The say López Obrador’s dai- for the cruelties of the 1521
Mexican government has ly criticisms of journalists, conquest of Mexico, some-
issued an irate response to whom he calls “conserva- thing which Spain has nev-
European Union criticism tives” and “mercenaries,” er issued.
of journalist killings in Mex- make them more vulner- In the letter Thursday, Mex-
ico, and President Andrés able to violence. ico wrote: “You should
Manuel López Obrador López Obrador claimed er- know, European Parlia-
accused European Parlia- roneously Friday that only ment, that Mexico is no lon-
ment members Friday of five journalists have been ger anybody’s colony.”
having a “colonialist men- killed so far this year. He The EU resolution “calls on
tality.” said suspects have been the authorities, and in par-
The open letter sent late arrested in four of those ticular the highest ones,
Thursday criticized EU sup- cases. to refrain from issuing any
port for Ukraine, and called López Obrador is a proud communication which
European Parliament mem- nationalist who angrily re- could stigmatize human
bers “sheep.” jects any outside criticism rights defenders, journalists Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during
“It is unfortunate that you of Mexico. He has lashed and media workers, exac- a ceremony to commemorate in Mexico City’s main square the
vote like sheep to join the out at nongovernmental erbate the atmosphere Zocalo, Aug. 13, 2021.
reactionary and coup- organizations that receive against them or distort their Associated Press
mongering strategy of the foreign funding. lines of investigation.” can Press Association line news site Noticias Web,
corrupt group opposed to His new letter even pulled It encourages Mexico “to called on the president to was shot to death in the
the Fourth Transformation,” European backing for strengthen state institutions “immediately suspend the southern state of Oaxaca.
as López Obrador calls his Ukraine into the issue. López and consolidate the rule of aggressions and insults, be- Roberto Toledo, a camera
administration. The presi- Obrador’s administration law with a view to tackling cause such attacks from operator and video editor
dent acknowledged he has steadfastly refused to some of the structural prob- the top of power encour- for the online site Monitor
wrote the letter himself. impose sanctions against lems at the root of the hu- age violence against the Michoacan, was shot Jan.
The EU Parliament ap- Russia for invading Ukraine man rights violations.” press.” 31 as he prepared for an in-
proved a resolution Thurs- and he has limited himself Journalists are often the In early March, gunmen terview in the western state
day urging López Obrador to appeals for peace on all targets of Mexico’s drug killed Juan Carlos Muñiz, of Michoacan.
to stop his harsh verbal sides. “Mexico is a pacifist cartels, which seek to intim- who covered crime for the Reporter Lourdes Maldo-
attacks on reporters who country that has opted for idate and manipulate cov- online news site Testigo nado López was found shot
criticize him, and ensure nonviolence and we sup- erage of their activities and Minero in the violent state to death inside her car in Ti-
their safety. The resolution port dialogue, not war; we their rivals. Local politicians of Zacatecas. juana on Jan. 23.
passed by 607 to 2, with 73 don’t send weapons to any and government officials Jorge Camero, the director Crime photographer
abstentions. country under any circum- are also frequently linked to of an online news site who Margarito Martínez was
A record seven journal- stance, not like what you murders, according to the was until recently a munici- gunned down outside his
ists have been murdered are doing now,” the Mexi- government, which has ac- pal worker in the northern Tijuana home on Jan. 17.
in Mexico in two months, can letter states. knowledged that impunity state of Sonora, was killed Reporter José Luis Gamboa
making it the most danger- López Obrador has fre- in those killings runs above in late February. was killed in the Gulf coast
ous country in the world for quently tangled with Spain, 90%. In early February, Heber state of Veracruz on Jan.
press workers. Press groups demanding an apology In February, the Inter Ameri- López, director of the on- 10.q

Lava flows as Indonesia’s Mount

Merapi continues to erupt

slopes. It was Mount Mera- avalanches of incandes- danger is not more than 7
pi’s biggest lava flow since cent lava at least 15 times, kilometers,” Humaida said.
authorities raised its danger according to the Geologi- Authorities have closed at
level in November 2020, cal Disaster Technology Re- least five tourism attrac-
said Hanik Humaida, the search and Development tions located within the
head of Yogyakarta’s Vol- Center. Using seismic and danger zone of 5 kilometers
canology and Geological other data, the agency (3.1 miles) from the crater
Hazard Mitigation Center. estimated the lava spread and halted mining activi-
Dozens of light eruptions less then 2 kilometers (1.2 ties along the volcano’s riv-
continued during the day miles) from the crater. ers, Humaida said. Activi-
Thursday with a river of lava He said the lava dome just ties out of the danger zone
Lava flows down from the crater of Mount Merapi seen from and searing gas clouds below Merapi’s southwest remained open.
Cangkringan village in Sleman, Yogyakarta, early Friday, March flowing 2.5 kilometers (1.5 rim and the lava dome in Mount Merapi is the most
11, 2022. miles) down its slopes. No the crater both have been active of more than 120
Associated Press
casualties were reported. active since last year. The active volcanoes in Indo-
By SLAMET RIYADI The volcano on the densely About 253 people were volume was estimated at nesia and has repeatedly
Associated Press populated island of Java evacuated to temporary 1.5 million cubic meters in erupted with lava and gas
YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia unleashed clouds of hot shelters but they returned to the southwest rim dome clouds recently. The Vol-
(AP) — Indonesia’s Mount ash shortly before mid- the volcano’s fertile slopes and 3.2 million cubic me- canology and Geological
Merapi continued to erupt night Wednesday into early after the activity subsided, ters in the crater before Hazard Mitigation Center
Friday, forcing authorities morning Thursday and fast- Humaida said. partially collapsing in the did not raise Merapi’s alert
to halt tourism and mining moving pyroclastic flows — The volcano eruption on past two days, sending py- status, which already was
activities on the slopes of a mixture of rock, lava and Friday spewed a column roclastic flows traveling fast at the second-highest of
the country’s most active gas — traveled up to 5 kilo- of hot clouds rising 100 me- down the southwest flank. four levels since it began
volcano. meters (3.1 miles) down its ters (yards) into the air with “We estimate the potential erupting last November.q