Cozumel Apologizes to Journalists After Wrongful Detention

Playa del Carmen, Q. Roo — The municipal government of Cozumel issued a public apology to journalists Silvia Peraza and Gabriel Aguilar for their arbitrary detention in April 2023, an incident linked to their coverage of alleged local government corruption. The apology, mandated by a recommendation from the Quintana Roo Human Rights Commission, was delivered without the presence of former Cozumel Mayor Juanita Obdulia Alonso Marrufo, who was accused of instigating the arrests.

A Violent Detention and Public Outcry

On April 13, 2023, Peraza and Aguilar were covering a traffic accident in eastern Cozumel when police officers surrounded them, falsely accusing them of crossing a yellow safety line. Witnesses reported hearing an officer shout, “Break their faces,” before the journalists were handcuffed and taken to a public security facility. They were later transferred to the Quintana Roo Attorney General’s Office, where authorities attempted to charge them with resisting arrest. The Mexican Navy also participated in their transfer.

Silvia Peraza recounted her ordeal in a 2024 interview, describing her detention in a filthy, feces-covered cell with a foul-smelling toilet. “I had to press against the bars just to breathe,” she said. Public protests outside the prosecutor’s office eventually secured their release.

Political Retaliation and Ongoing Consequences

Peraza alleged that after their detention, she faced continued persecution from local authorities for exposing government misconduct under the Morena party administration. The harassment damaged her health and professional standing, as advertising opportunities for her media outlet dried up.

During the apology ceremony, Peraza stated, “I accept this public apology under protest because those who violated our rights are not in this room. They should be here, yet they still hold prominent public positions.” Notably, Juanita Obdulia, now director of Cozumel’s Parks and Museums Foundation, did not attend.

Human Rights Commission’s Unpublished Findings

The Quintana Roo Human Rights Commission, led by Omega Istar Ponce Palomeque, has not publicly released its recommendation against the Cozumel municipality, despite legal obligations to do so. The case underscores broader concerns about press freedom in Quintana Roo, where at least four journalists have been killed in the past decade.

The incident remains a stark reminder of the risks faced by journalists in Mexico, particularly when reporting on corruption and government accountability.