Translated by Emma Manson
Javier Valdez Cárdenas, a man who never went anywhere without his hat and who was known for his casual greeting of “¿Qué onda, bato?” (what’s up, buddy?). When he spoke, his stories were filled with regional vocabulary and curse words: the perfect narrator to share thoughts and ideas with over a few beers. When he wrote, he left aside these quirks and allowed for a more rigorous approach: the perfect narrator to objectively understand a convulsive reality.
On May 15 twelve shots were fired and subsequently ended the life of one of the greatest people in Mexico. Valdez Cárdenas, a sociology major, founder of Ríodoce (an independent publication directed by Ismael Bojórquez), Sinaloa based correspondent for La Jornada and author of essential books about Mexico’s violence such as Miss Narco, Levantones (‘The Taken’), and Malayerba (‘bad herb’ a slang term for marijuana), fought against the indifference in a society crippled by fear and described its raw horrors without imposing his own opinion.
In 2015 when his book Huérfanos del Narco (Orphans of Drug Trafficking) was unveiled in Culiacán it was the first written piece that gave a voice to the children who lost their parents to the war against drug trafficking. Not one of them mentioned revenge. Despite their loss, the terror and the sheer absurdity of the situation, they did not turn to resentment. Valdez Cárdenas shared the fortitude of his witnesses; he knew that the best way to overcome adversaries is not to stoop to their level and rather to rise above them. Amidst the storm he retained his sense of humor and ability to empathize with and care for others.
His critical conscience was not driven by hatred but by a passion to discover the truth. For half a century he lived to better a country that could not offer him protection and this has turned him into one of Mexico’s martyrs. Similarly to Daniela Rea, Marcela Turati and other extraordinary journalists, he understood that the most significant suffering as a result of Mexico’s violence is not related to the persecutors but instead to the victims who are now part of it.
Who kills journalists? Valdez Cárdenas was not one to take unnecessary risks and he was well aware that his reputation certainly did not grant him any exemption. The Ríodoce offices were attacked. The Friday deadline brought together the celebratory atmosphere of a finished edition with a thorough evaluation of the threats that had been received. Very few professionals were as qualified as he was to identify the fragile limits of the profession. His murder highlights a surge in violence towards journalists.
At one time Javier considered moving elsewhere but the situation in the country had become so bad that it was difficult to find a sanctuary that was free of danger. This, however, did allow him to work in the place which he knew like the back of his hand.
On many occasions the words of Élmer Mendoza, another great author from Sinaloa, are referenced:
“ You don’t have to watch out for the bad guys, but more importantly for those who seem like good guys”.
Those who identify themselves as villains of drug trafficking, the big bosses of the drug trade, are less worried about publicity than those who boast a seemingly legal façade in order to cover up their true criminal activity. Those who have most to lose are business owners, politicians and the military partners involved in these crimes.
Ex-President Felipe Calderón referred to those who were rivals in his war against drug trafficking as “savages”, “the baddies” and “the others”, without understanding that they belong to a society where the line between law abiding and illegal is becoming evermore blurred. Current President, Peña Nieto, has also failed to understand this situation. Those who find themselves in this blurred area do not wish to be investigated. As long as the government refuses to take a closer look at their own employees nor does it examine the ramifications of dirty money, the journalists who take it upon themselves to do so will continue to die.
Since living with Martín Amaral, culture and daily life journalist from Sinaloa, Valdez Cárdenas saw his writing as a complimentary activity that would benefit the writing and voices of others. Although he had a unique style in his writing, he preferred to listen. On September 4, 2015, I accompanied him in an appearance before his vast following in Culiacán and again he expressed his interest in hearing what other people have to say, “if people stop talking then a journalist will stop writing, but if people continue to talk then only a bastard would stop writing”, he said before a norteño group [music style of northern parts of Mexico, that includes an accordian] could replace his words with music.
Every testimony that emerges in this country of blood will have part of Javier Valdez Cárdenas. Although he may not write it, he has certainly inspired it.
Reforma only allows subscribers to access its articles online.
*Juan Villoro, writer and novelist, won the Herralde Prize for his novel The Witness, the Vázquez Montalbán International Journalism Prize for his book on soccer, God Is Round and the José Donoso Iberoamerican Prize for the entirety of his work. He has taught at UNAM, Yale, Princeton and the University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. His books for children include The Teacher Zíper and The Fabulous Electric Guitar. Twitter: @JuanVilloro56
Ex-President Felipe Calderón referred to those who were rivals in his war against drug trafficking as “savages”, “the baddies” and “the others”, without understanding that they belong to a society where the line between law abiding and illegal is becoming evermore blurred. Current President, Peña Nieto, has also failed to understand this situation. Those who find themselves in this blurred area do not wish to be investigated. As long as the government refuses to take a closer look at their own employees nor does it examine the ramifications of dirty money, the journalists who take it upon themselves to do so will continue to die.
Since living with Martín Amaral, culture and daily life journalist from Sinaloa, Valdez Cárdenas saw his writing as a complimentary activity that would benefit the writing and voices of others. Although he had a unique style in his writing, he preferred to listen. On September 4, 2015, I accompanied him in an appearance before his vast following in Culiacán and again he expressed his interest in hearing what other people have to say, “if people stop talking then a journalist will stop writing, but if people continue to talk then only a bastard would stop writing”, he said before a norteño group [music style of northern parts of Mexico, that includes an accordian] could replace his words with music.
Every testimony that emerges in this country of blood will have part of Javier Valdez Cárdenas. Although he may not write it, he has certainly inspired it.
Reforma only allows subscribers to access its articles online.
*Juan Villoro, writer and novelist, won the Herralde Prize for his novel The Witness, the Vázquez Montalbán International Journalism Prize for his book on soccer, God Is Round and the José Donoso Iberoamerican Prize for the entirety of his work. He has taught at UNAM, Yale, Princeton and the University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. His books for children include The Teacher Zíper and The Fabulous Electric Guitar. Twitter: @JuanVilloro56