Coahuila's authorities attempt to censor comments on Twitter and Facebook

Saltillo, Mexico.  Mexican politicians often surprise me with the foolishness of some of their ideas.  Sometimes I wonder if they really think about what they are going to say before opening their mouths.

The most recent example of one of these stupid ideas came from the authorities of Saltillo, in the northern state of Coahuila: Governor Jorge Torres and the mayor of Saltillo, Jericó Abramo Masso have announced that people who use social networks to spread rumors about possible violent acts will be fined.

They said the government already has a program to closely follow the people who use Twitter or Facebook to spread rumors that provoke panic among citizens.

The authorities’ brilliant idea came after a week in which the relative calm of the city was broken on March 4 by different confrontations between police forces and organized crime members. As a result of these battles seven people were killed –among them an innocent citizen– and several others were injured.

The day the confrontations occurred, the Saltillenses were terrified: through every social network –Facebook, Twitter and even text messages– they alerted each other about what was happening: which areas or streets to avoid, what to do with children at schools or how to react if you were in the middle of a shooting. In other words, they were reacting and trying to keep informed about something unusual for them.

Not used to the violence that has affected many other cities in the country, the Saltillenses reacted with panic. And since March 4, rumors about more violence have been spreading through social media. A traditional “kermes” (religious celebration) in a local church was abruptly suspended last Sunday because of rumors of shootings all around the city. Some people have decided to avoid freeways because it is said they are dangerous –criminals used them to escape from police–. Some people even decided not to take their children to school because of multiple rumors of bomb threats.

Until recently, Saltillo had been relatively safe compared with the violence affecting other surrounding cities such as Torreon or Monterrey. Because of the proximity of those cities, many people knew that sooner or later the violence would touch the city. And when it happened, they reacted frenetically.

Trying to punish people who use social networks to express their fears and concerns is not an intelligent response. The authorities of Coahuila should recognize the important role of social networks in mobilizing and keeping people informed.  They should keep in mind the recent role of social media in the Egypt revolt and more recently in Japan after the earthquake and tsunami.

In circumstances such as the ones Mexico is going through –when traditional local media is not always able to inform the citizens because of self imposed censorship– social networks become the voice of the citizens. Yesterday, for example, rumors about a grenade explosion at the police station were spread mouth to mouth, but the newspapers didn’t report anything unusual. If the information that spreads through Facebook or Twitter is not 100 percent accurate, well, that’s another discussion. But trying to shut down those voices just because “they create panic” is an absurd act of censorship and shows the shortsightednsess of the politicians in Coahuila.

Between that and trying to censor any other comment expressed through social networks there would only be a small step, and taking that step would be a terrible and lamentable mistake.

 

 

Comments

[Mario]

governor Moreira bougth the silence of all media in Coahuila, over here any newspaper, neither local tv station inform about criminal issues...

[dbigkanunna]

Here is a though, maybe the Narco's would not be as corrupt as the established Mexican political structure. I amazes me to no end how much the Mexican people will put up with.
Oh yea, the Mexican people do not have the ability to defend themselves. Must feel great to live on your knees!

[billy]

That is very sad. I would say some mean stuff but it just really is sad when the press is silenced. whatch out America it could be us next.

[Bruno]

Firstly thanks for this notes, is very important for us to know, just for your information this is only one exemple of represion on Mexico this happen in all country, we are tired for this situation but unfourtunely is the power of the money, if you investigate more you gona find nepotism in all Coahuila, the moreira family works in the most important jobs. regards

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[Josdamet]

Mexican politicians of the old regime are trying to block the expression of citizens, but the technology is beyond the will of the minority politics. There are politicians and citizens who are fighting to defend our sacred rightsMexican politicians of the old regime are trying to block the expression of citizens, but the technology is beyond the will of the minority politics. There are politicians and citizens who are fighting to defend our sacred rights

[Coahuila]

If you get to watch local TV Channels in Coahuila, you might recall Soviet or North Korean television, they inform nothing worthy but instead they spend all the time "praising he leaders", aka. the former State governor (Humberto Moreira) and his family (all of them having some government position). According to those media, everything is bliss and joy in this land because of them, and if something bad happens, it must be someone else's fault (usually some politician of a Party of the opposition).
The same occurs with most local Newspapers.
Now they are trying to attempt to delete the relative freedom of speech that social media allows.

It's very important to mark out that the State, which had a relatively healthy-advancing democracy in the early 2000s, is becoming a dictatorship, even though it's within a relatively "free" country, Mexico. Also, it's important to notice that the author of this regression in political freedoms, former governor Moreira, is present now in the national politics, very well inserted in the Party that is more likely to win the 2012 elections, so, the risk becomes nationwide.