Click for article Mexico has a long tradition of welcoming political exiles. This understood, serving as a place of protection for the persecuted foreigner could, at times, feel ironic considering that it is also a country that has examples of internal political repression. As the Spanish Civil War went badly for the Republic, as many as 25,000 Spaniards and the government-in-exile made their way to Mexico. Trotsky famously fled Stalin, was protected by the Mexican government, and was eventually murdered there. The plotting for the Cuban revolution can find its roots in the country and people fleeing various twentieth-century dictatorships around Latin America not only enjoyed safe harbor, but made homes in Mexico. The fact that last year Evo Morales, exiled after a soft coup removed him from power in Bolivia, found refuge in Mexico is unsurprising in this context. In the 1960s, 70s, and 80s presidents like Luis Echeverría opened Mexico’s doors and arms to people who had fled their homelands and been rejected by other countries. However, it is important to remember that -sometimes simultaneously- these same governments also practiced internal repression. A famous example is 1968’s Tlatelolco Massacre and the following dirty war, where the same Echeverría had an important role. Here is a Washington Post article that summarizes this contradictory history.
Yesterday Mexico’s president celebrated the UK’s decision not to extradite Julian Assange to the US. Beyond words of praise, López Obrador also announced this his country would offer political asylum “porque Assange es un periodista y merece una oportunidad”. This offer of protection for the pursued foreigner seemed to keep with the tradition described above. However, perhaps also continuing the practices depicted before, the idea of safeguarding someone because he is a journalist rang ironic for some considering that last month Mexico was declared the world’s deadliest country for journalists and still others pointed to a multi-year history of the government using the Pegasus spyware to track and spy on journalists and their families.
Indeed, like so many who came before him, Assange might feel thankful for the offer to live in Mexico, particularly at a moment when other countries have rejected him. It could be argued that the offer is a new chapter in a generous history of Mexican asylum. Nevertheless, it is also important to avoid letting this headline-grabbing move by López Obrador distract from the fact that there are Mexican journalists who live in fear.
Yesterday Mexico’s president celebrated the UK’s decision not to extradite Julian Assange to the US. Beyond words of praise, López Obrador also announced this his country would offer political asylum “porque Assange es un periodista y merece una oportunidad”. This offer of protection for the pursued foreigner seemed to keep with the tradition described above. However, perhaps also continuing the practices depicted before, the idea of safeguarding someone because he is a journalist rang ironic for some considering that last month Mexico was declared the world’s deadliest country for journalists and still others pointed to a multi-year history of the government using the Pegasus spyware to track and spy on journalists and their families.
Indeed, like so many who came before him, Assange might feel thankful for the offer to live in Mexico, particularly at a moment when other countries have rejected him. It could be argued that the offer is a new chapter in a generous history of Mexican asylum. Nevertheless, it is also important to avoid letting this headline-grabbing move by López Obrador distract from the fact that there are Mexican journalists who live in fear.
