By: Mark Fitzgerald Mario Robles, who works for the Oaxaca, Mexico, newspaper Noticias Voz e Imagen, has won this year's Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning from Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI).
CRNI describes itself as the world's only free speech and human rights organization dedicated exclusively to the needs of political cartoonists.
Robles is the first Latin American cartoonist to win the award, which was announced by CRNI President Joel Pett of the Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader during last week's annual convention of the Association of American Editorial Cartooning.
CRNI cited this account in making the award: "Robles, was assaulted on last April 19 for a cartoon that made fun of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) over a crackdown on public demonstrations. According to the human rights organization ARTICLE 19, local agents of the PRI party approached Robles and started kicking him, leaving him with visible wounds. They said he should stop drawing such critical cartoons or they would kill him and his family."
Robles is a veteran cartoonist with 30 years experience who has won the top journalism award in Oaxaca six times.
CRNI President Pett noted that Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. According to a 2008 report from the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 24 journalists have been killed, eight in direct retaliation for their work. Seven others have disappeared since 2005.
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