Journalist and writer Lydia Cacho stated that she lives in “forced exile” because the people and groups she denounced for alleged human trafficking and political protection networks “need to see her dead.” This weekend, in Mexico City, the author maintained that the threats against her continue while a “narco-political and censorship structure” persists in the country, which, she said, also involves sectors linked to the current ruling left.
The writer returned temporarily to the country to present “A Hawk Under My Window,” her most recent book, and during an interview with Carmen Aristegui, she took the opportunity to launch a direct criticism against political figures and movements that, she argued, abandoned the democratic causes they once defended. “What happened to that left that is now suddenly allied with censorship?” she questioned during the conversation.
Cacho stated that, following the publication of “The Demons of Eden” two decades ago, official persecution began against her for exposing alleged international child sex trafficking networks protected by both political actors and criminal groups. She explained that governors, senators, police commanders, prosecutors, and officials responsible for administering justice participated in these networks.
The journalist recalled that, after years of litigation and protecting victims, businessman Jean Succar Kuri received a 113-year prison sentence. However, she asserted that the reprisals resulted in torture, imprisonment, death threats, and direct attacks against her.
Among these incidents, she mentioned the 2019 attack when armed men entered her home, killed her pets, and stole journalistic files. She recounted that Interpol specialists and security personnel recommended she leave Mexico to protect her life while the investigations against former Puebla governor Mario Marín and others involved continued.
Cacho Accuses Former PRI Members of Links to Sectors of Morena
During the interview, Cacho revealed that she had just been notified of the rejection of an appeal filed by Mario Marín and Adolfo Karam, who were seeking to avoid prosecution in the case.
The author stated that she will testify again now that she is in Mexico and maintained that the threats are not only coming from figures from the PRI’s past, but also from actors linked to the current political power structure.
According to her, some of the people involved migrated politically from the PRI to Morena and currently hold positions of influence within the Puebla state government and other power structures.
The writer also refused to entrust her safety to the Mexican state. She recalled that members of the National Guard were assigned to protect her when attacks against her occurred, although she asserted that the agents abandoned the scene during the attacks.
“Narco-politics is already in power”: Lydia Cacho’s warning
In the more politically charged part of the conversation, Cacho stated that for more than 15 years, various voices have warned about the growth of narco-politics in Mexico. She explained that the phenomenon has moved beyond the illegal financing of campaigns and has evolved into the direct infiltration of criminal groups into government structures.
The journalist maintained that criminal organizations have managed to control local economies, impose a climate of fear on entire communities, and influence political decisions. She also stated that some criminal groups operate with characteristics similar to terrorist organizations, although she clarified that she does not share US President Donald Trump’s stance on Mexico.
Cacho added that Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum faces the challenge of breaking with sectors of the Morena party that, she said, seek to remain silent about these problems. If she fails to do so, she warned, it could increase US pressure on Mexico and on civil society organizations.
Source: infobae
