Mexico City – Amnesty International and the Inter American Press Association condemned Mexican police for arresting a journalist in the resort town of Cancun and driving her 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) to the state of Puebla, where she was released on bail.
In statements released Tuesday, the two non governmental organizations said that police violated reporter Lydia Cacho’s rights by forcing her to make the 20 hour journey, during which Cacho claims she was refused medicines for her bronchitis.
The organizations also said they are worried because Cacho has received death threats.
State prosecutors in Puebla charge Cacho with libel and slander for authoring the “The Demons of Eden,” a book chronicling networks of pedophiles, child prostitution and child pornography that was released in May. The prosecutors say that Cacho makes false accusations against a Puebla businessman in the book.
Three Puebla policemen drove to Cancun and arrested Cacho on Friday.
Following the arrest, Puebla police spokesman Juan Carlos Lopez said Mexican law permits police to drive into other states and even across the country to make arrests, although they normally only do it to detain dangerous criminals.
On Saturday, a Puebla state judge granted Cacho a bail of just under US$10,000 (euro8,300).
Amnesty International said they were concerned that the Mexican government uses slander charges to silence journalists.
In its statement it asked its supporters to write to Mexican authorities, “expressing concern that on occasions (libel charges) are used to silence those that are asking delicate questions.” “This violates the freedom of expression,” it said.
