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WORLD NEWS Thursday 17 March 2022

Journalist killed in Mexico, eighth so far this year

"We have organized crime, protection payments from wrote "I join those calling
just like in the rest of the avocado growers. for greater accountability
country, and Monitor "The nightmare continues and protections for Mexi-
worked on a lot of issues for the press in Mexico," the can journalists."
like illegal logging, given press group Reporters With- López Obrador claims the
that we are near the mon- out Borders wrote in its so- government is investigating
arch reserve," Linares said in cial media accounts. all of the killings and sug-
early February. "We wrote Mexican President Andrés gested Blinken received
a lot about illegal logging Manuel López Obrador has bad information from other
and also a lot of issues like reacted angrily to world- U.S. agencies, mentioning
corruption in the municipal wide criticism of the killings. the CIA, FBI and Drug En-
government." In February, López Obra- forcement Administration.
Drug cartels in Mexico often dor said U.S. Secretary of "They're tricking him," he
make money by protecting State Antony Blinken was said. "We don't tolerate the
illegal logging, or extorting misinformed, after Blinken impunity of anyone."q
Reporters photograph the red brick home where journalist Ar-
mando Linares was shot dead, in Zitacuaro, Michoacan state,
Mexico, Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
Associated Press
MEXICO CITY (AP) — An- has damaged the pine
other journalist was shot to and fir forests where the
death in Mexico on Tues- butterflies spend the win-
day, the eighth murdered ter after migrating from the
so far this year in an un- United States and Canada.
precedented spate of kill- Linares served as director
ings that has made Mexico at the Monitor Michoacan
the most dangerous place website, which on Tuesday
in the world for the press. continued to show an arti-
Reporters and photogra- cle he had written about a
phers have been murdered cultural festival celebrating
this year in Mexico at the monarch butterflies.
rate of almost one a week, There was no immediate
despite claims from the information on a possible
government that the situa- motive in the killing.
tion is under control. Toledo, a camera operator
Prosecutors in the western and video editor for Moni-
state of Michoacan said tor Michoacan, was shot
reporter Armando Linares Jan. 31 as he prepared for
was shot to death at a an interview in Zitacuaro.
home in the town of Zit- At the time of Toledo's
acuaro. His killing came six death, Linares told The
weeks after the slaying of Associated Press he had
a colleague, Roberto To- received several death
ledo, from the same outlet threats after enrolling in a
Monitor Michoacan. It was government journalist pro-
Linares who announced tection program.
Toledo's death Jan. 31 in a Asked who he thought was
video posted to social me- behind the threats, Linares
dia. said "they pass themselves
Zitacuaro is one of the clos- off as an armed group,
est towns to the monarch they pass themselves off as
butterfly wintering grounds a criminal gang. We can't
in the mountains west of verify whether it is true or
Mexico City. not that they are this armed
The area has been plagued gang."
by illegal logging and drug Criminals in Mexico often
gangs, local governance claim they are part of a
disputes and deforestation drug cartel in order to instill
linked to expanding avo- fear in their victims, wheth-
cado production. Logging er or not they really are.