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Alert

Canadian journalist threatened with lynching

(FPJQ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 February 2002 FPJQ letter to Mexican Ambassador to Canada Maria Teresa Garcia Segovia de Madero:

February 18, 2002
Montreal

Madame Maria Teresa Garcia Segovia de Madero
Ambassador
Mexican Embassy
45 O'Connor St, Suite 1500
Ottawa, ON K1P 1A4

Madame Ambassador,


The Professional Federation of Quebec Journalists (FPJQ) wishes to draw your attention to an incident that occurred on February 1st in the village of San Mateo Tlaltenango in western Mexico. This incident placed the Quebec journalist, Bernard Drainville, in danger. Mr. Drainville is a well-known journalist who works for Radio-Canada and was formerly a board member of the FPJQ.

On the date in question, and in sight of the local police, a small crowd threatened to lynch him.

These are the facts. While filming near a daycare that was illegally constructed in an area that is subject to flooding, Mr. Drainville was arrested by police. Police say they received a complaint from the owner of the daycare, who is also village chief. Although the journalist identified himself and demanded that his rights be respected, he was nonetheless arrested.

Mr. Drainville was then brutally led to the police station. After political authorities intervened, he was released along with two people (a cameraman and an assistant) who were accompanying him. Yet, the police officer in the patrol car that was supposed to escort them to safety then demanded they get out of the car. During this time, the surrounding crowd became threatening. The journalists feared for their lives.

Government workers had to take the journalists into another building, where they could leave through a secret door. They escaped the crowd by fleeing in the private car of one of the government workers.

This matter - that could have ended very badly - seems to demonstrate the police are no longer controlled by legitimate authorities and instead, obey the village chief and the instincts of inflamed crowds. The village chief had circulated a false accusation that the journalists wanted to kidnap the children in the daycare.

Mexican authorities are taking this matter very seriously. The FPJQ hopes you will do everything in your power to ensure this kind of incident can never again happen.

One of Canada's important partners, your country believes press freedom is sacred and an essential element of democracy. An investigation should be carried out so that those responsible for the threats against these journalists be brought to justice. It is also important to shed light on the unacceptable behaviour of the police, who failed in their duty to protect these journalists.

By publicly following up on this matter, your government would give a clear signal that it intends to preserve press freedom within its territory.

Please accept our best wishes,

Anne-Marie Dussault
President- FPJQ

c.c. Bill Graham, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs
Madeleine Gaudreault, Communications Advisor, ministère des Relations internationales du Québec

Recommended Action

Similar appeals can be sent to:

Madame Maria Teresa Garcia Segovia de Madero
Ambassador
Mexican Embassy
45 O'Connor St, Suite 1500
Ottawa, ON  K1P 1A4
Canada
Fax: +1 613 235 9123

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.