Six years after the murder of Mario Gómez Sánchez, RSF condemns persistent impunity in Chiapas
On 21 September 2018, Mario Gómez Sánchez, an indigenous journalist and correspondent for El Heraldo in Yajalón, Chiapas, was shot dead outside his home in the state of Chiapas. Known for his fearless reporting on corruption and organised crime, his death illustrates the extreme dangers faced by journalists covering sensitive issues in Mexico. Six years later, justice remains elusive. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Mexican authorities, particularly the Chiapas State Attorney General’s Office, to take decisive action and ensure all the perpetrators of this brutal crime are held to account.
On the sixth anniversary of Mario Gómez Sánchez’s murder, RSF met with the Chiapas State Human Rights Commission and the Chiapas Executive Commission for Victim Support, to reaffirm its commitment to ending impunity in Gómez’s case. In line with these efforts, RSF also organised the forum "Chiapas: Freedom of Expression and the Mario Gómez Case" on 21 September 2024, bringing together journalists, human rights organisations, and Gómez’s family to demand justice and address the ongoing threats to press freedom in Chiapas.
Gómez, an indigenous Tseltal journalist and correspondent for El Heraldo in Yajalón, was murdered outside his home after reporting on corruption and organised crime. Six years after his assassination, impunity prevails: three of the physical perpetrators have been convicted, yet their sentences are in the process of being appealed. Meanwhile, those who orchestrated the crime – including politicians – remain at large. RSF calls on the Chiapas Attorney General’s Office to take stronger action and ensure everyone involved is held accountable.
On this painful anniversary, RSF once again urges the Mexican government to take swift, decisive steps to ensure that those responsible for Mario Gómez’s murder face justice. They must not allow Chiapas to become a haven for impunity, where journalists are killed for exposing corruption and organised crime. The Mexican government has a clear responsibility to restore the rule of law and protect those who provide society with essential information.
The forum highlighted the constant risks faced by journalists in Chiapas, where organised crime and political interests foster an environment of fear and violence. Nancy Gómez, Mario’s sister, spoke during the event, demanding justice and recounting the persistent threats her family has faced since his murder. Despite repeated pleas, authorities have failed to offer sufficient protection to Gómez’s family or thoroughly investigate the motives behind his killing.
RSF also calls on the Chiapas Attorney General’s Office to address past failures in handling this case, as outlined in a 2023 recommendation from the Chiapas State Human Rights Commission. Authorities must ensure that Gómez’s family receives tangible protection and that a thorough investigation into the intellectual authors of the crime is conducted. RSF further urges the Chiapas Executive Commission for Victim Support to continue providing restitution and support to the Gómez family.
