The Mexican Drug War
At least 60,000 people died of drug-related violence during Calderón's six-year presidency. Many put that number much higher. (Mexican newsweekly Proceso published a death count of more than 88,000.) Enrique Peña Nieto was inaugurated as Mexico's new president on December 1, 2012, marking the return to power of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Peña Nieto promises to reduce drug-related violence.
In June 2012, after four Mexican newsrooms were targeted, the Mexican congress passed a constitutional amendment giving the federal government jurisdiction over journalist murders, which previously had been prosecuted by local authorities. The Committee to Protect Journalists and others argue that this measure alone is inadequate, and the government must outline its responsibilities and allocate federal resources to the initiative.
Caption: Reporter Sergio Haro driving through Mexicali, Mexico
Credit: Claudio Rocha/Quiet Pictures
Sources:
» BBC News. "Mexico's Enrique Pena Nieto inaugurated as president."
» Committee to Protect Journalists. "Mexico must back up federal measure to protect press."
» Díaz, Gloria Leticia. "Primer corte preelectoral: 88 mil 361 muertos en el sexenio." Proceso, June 2, 2012.
» Grillo, Ioan, and Pablo Garibian. "Drug war fury awaits Mexico's Pena Nieto." Reuters, July 5, 2012.
» Stevenson, Mark, and Olga R. Rodriguez. "Mexico swears in president amid violent protests." Associated Press, Dec. 1, 2012.