The FGE discredited and stigmatized the press over the Jojutla massacre case: Network of Women Journalists

MORELOS (apro) .- The Network of Women Journalists of the State of Morelos expressed its concern about the information bulletin FGE 506, issued on June 23 by the State Attorney General's Office (FGE), headed by prosecutor Edgar Maldonado Ceballos, considering that it disqualifies the work of the media that have covered the fourth phase of intervention in the "Pedro Amaro" cemetery, in Jojutla.

According to the organization, the content of the newsletter not only discredits the press but also violates fundamental rights protected by national and international laws. It warned that the statements made by the Attorney General's Office seek to limit the practice of journalism, the right to freedom of expression, and access to public information, with the goal of controlling the narrative on a highly sensitive issue.

Among the points highlighted by the Network are the following:

1. Unfounded discredit. The Prosecutor's Office stated that the information disseminated by the press "lacks veracity and violates the victims' suffering." For the Network, this accusation, without evidence, stigmatizes journalists who report responsibly and puts their work at risk.
2. Stigmatization of journalism. He found it worrying that the media is being held responsible for generating "social alarm and misinformation," as this is a commonly used tool to discredit and censor journalistic work in sensitive contexts.
3. Lack of transparency. The organization emphasized that, while it is valid to inform the families of victims first, the Prosecutor's Office took seven days, after the suspension of work, to issue an official report. It emphasized that if the institution denies information, it must provide clear, verifiable, and accessible data for all.
4. Implicit threats. The bulletin states that "preventing the dissemination of unverified data is a legal obligation." The Network warned that this statement could be interpreted as a direct warning against those who report based on sources other than official ones, which represents a greater risk coming from a judicial authority.
5. Unfounded questioning of ethics. He considered it unacceptable to suggest that publishing information not confirmed by the Prosecutor's Office is an unethical act. He recalled that journalistic rigor is based on verifying diverse sources, not solely on the institutional version.
6. Impacts on the right to memory. The Network emphasized that journalistic work contributes to preserving collective memory, especially in cases of serious human rights violations. Restricting access to information directly impacts this right and perpetuates silence.

Furthermore, the organization reported that, during a meeting with groups held on June 25, prosecutor Edgar Maldonado Ceballos personally blamed the press for distorting information about the exhumation proceedings. He stated that these statements increase the risk to those who practice journalism in the state.

The Network recalled that Article 6 of the Mexican Constitution protects freedom of expression, access to information, and free journalism. It also noted that international treaties ratified by Mexico—such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—guarantee the right to seek, receive, and impart information, and that the United Nations has warned that authorities should not use laws or rhetoric to intimidate journalists.

"The Attorney General's Office violates fundamental human rights such as freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of the press, and the right to memory," the organization noted.

Finally, he demanded that the Prosecutor's Office:

• Refrain from issuing messages that intimidate, threaten, or discredit those reporting.
• Ensure transparent, equitable, and timely access to public information.
• Recognize journalism as a key tool for accountability, the defense of human rights, and the preservation of collective memory.

"The tragedy of the Jojutla graves has remained unresolved for more than ten years. The limited progress has been possible thanks to the persistence of the searching families and the work of committed journalism," the Network stated.

And he concluded: "Freedom of expression is not subject to conditions. Journalism is not silenced."