Karla Berenice Garcia Ramirez Statement to the Media
Award-winning Mexican journalist and now whistleblower Karla
Berenice García Ramírez, who writes under the penname Karla Lottini,
fears for the safety of herself and her family – including her two young
Canadian born daughters – as she awaits deportation orders. In a packed
press conference on Thursday January 19, 2012 she made the following
statement to the press:
I am here, in Canada, in front of you, Canadian, Latin American, and
Multicultural journalists. I want to tell you that if I’ll be forced
back to Mexico, my life and my family’s lives are at risk: we can be
killed, harassed and even go to jail “for moral damage”.
Why? Because I had the “bad luck” to discover corruption in the most
important cultural institution within the federal government that
controls 49 cultural institutions and hundreds of programs in the whole
country.
How? Through one of the most classic ways – I found out that they
steal money from the public budget by paying ghost workers for jobs
while diverting the funds to their pockets. I also found out that they
were illegally hiring employees as part-time freelancers while making them
work as journalists and photographers work for 8 hours per day without
medical benefits.
And then why I am at risk? Because I got the evidence and I tried to
complain and denounce them publicly. I found some of the fake payments,
fake labor contracts involving prestigious journalists, intellectuals
and federal employees that are still in power. I ended up exposing all
of this and all their names in my book 'The Talent of Charlatans,' which
was actually published here in Canada and launched at SFU and UBC.
This is not only a corruption story, this is a story of many
journalists suffering because of the lack of labor rights; this is the
story of how a country is dying thanks to impunity while the “president
of employment” says he’s “fighting against drug dealers”. He lies, like
many media outlets. The truth is that things are not well in Mexico!
Sadly, it is not a safe place for us citizens including journalists. As a
whistleblower I have been threatened, and also my family was threatened
and received death threats.
This is why I came to Canada in 2008. My refugee application has been
denied even when I have offered enough evidence to the Immigration and
Refugee Board. I am one of the thousands of Mexicans whose cases have
been denied by the immigration system: just around 10% have been
accepted because the Canadian authorities consider Mexico as a safe and
democratic country. Now I know they just listen to Felipe Calderon, when
they should listen to Mexicans citizens.
I am here in Canada now. My husband and I have been working and we
have been involved with the community volunteering for the Children’s
Festival, Surrey Parks Recreation and Culture, the Vancouver South
Cultural Project, and the radio program Latino Soy.
I am afraid for my life and my family’s life, including my two
Canadian babies. But all I would like is to be in your position, you as
journalists asking the questions, working with passion, and having
safety. But the fact is that I am here far from my family, my roots, my
profession and the dream. I am afraid I will not be able to say bye to
my parents if they are sick or dying because I am fearful the people I
have denounced will act on their threats.
I am here, because I can
’t keep silent. Because this humble
testimonial means a purification act for myself, because the truth, the
voice, the story, the pen (and of course the evidence) is all I have to
protect myself and my family. I am here because I believe in a better
world. After almost four years living in Surrey, I’m sure it is
possible: I don’t walk on the streets looking behind me to be sure it is
not a killer who is coming.
I am not finding dead bodies or severed
heads on the road.
I am here to say that if something bad happens to me or my family it
is because of I what I wrote and who I name in this book. I am here to
say thanks to Canadians and Latin American friends to give us a safe
land to put down roots and who support us and we still fight. Thanks to
No one is illegal for their efforts and solidarity. Thank you all for
coming and I hope we get to stay.
MEDIA ROUNDUP FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE
Vancouver Observer indepth interview – Mexican whistleblower Karla Lottini fights corruption, death threats and deportation
http://www.vancouverobserver.com/world/2012/01/19/mexican-whistleblower-karla-lottini-fights-corruption-death-threats-and-deportation
CBC – Journalist in B.C. fears deportation to Mexico
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/01/19/bc-deportation-ramirez-mexico.html
Georgia Straight – Mexican journalist facing deportation fears for safety
http://www.straight.com/article-588531/vancouver/mexican-journalist-facing-deportation-fears-safety
Canadian Press – Mexican journalist in B.C. fears for life if deported after exposing corruption
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/mexican-journalist-in-bc-fears-for-life-if-deported-after-exposing-corruption-137688503.html
24 Hours – Mexican journalist fights to stay, fears for life
http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/News/local/2012/01/19/19269356.html
Global News National – Mexican journalist in B.C. fears for life if deported after exposing corruption
http://www.globalnews.ca/entertainment/canada/mexican+journalist+in+bc+fears+for+life+if+deported+after+exposing+corruption/6442563011/story.html
Sun News Network: Mexican journalist seeking asylum
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/canada/archives/2012/01/20120120-081133.html
Tyee – Mexican journalist in B.C. fears for life if deported after exposing corruption
http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Labour-Industry/2012/01/19/Journalist-Deportation/
Earlier Globe and Mail piece:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/mexican-journalist-launches-last-ditch-bid-to-fight-deportation/article2304725/
