Guatemala Fails to Protect Freedom of the Press, says Threatened Journalist

Guatemala Fails to Protect Freedom of the Press, says Threatened Journalist

Radio Journalist Denounces Guatemala's Failure to Investigate an Attempted Murder and Threat Linked to Reports on Death Squads and Tax Evasion

WASHINGTON, May 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Oscar Castaneda, the General Director of Guatemala City-based Radio 10, filed a Petition last week before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States to denounce the Guatemala Government's failure to investigate death threats and murder attempts against Radio 10 personnel.

"This unwillingness on behalf of the State to investigate crimes against journalists is a violation of the American Convention on Human Rights, and sends a message to the enemies of free expression: it's open season on Guatemalan journalists," said Mr. Castaneda. "It is time to ask who exactly the State is protecting."

Douglass Cassel, Director of the Center for Civil and Human Rights at Notre Dame Law School and one of the lawyers for Oscar Castaneda said the following in regards to the IACHR Petition: "Radio 10 is asking the Inter- American Commission on Human Rights to take this case, precisely because we cannot rely on the prime suspects -- Guatemalan police death squads -- to investigate themselves."

Radio 10, a news and talk station recognized for its coverage of topics normally considered "off limits" by the rest of the Guatemalan media such as tax evasion by economic elites, white collar crime such as money laundering, and death squads, has been the victim of a coordinated campaign of harassment for the past two years. Last year, following separate reports on tax evasion and death squads, Oscar Castaneda received an on-air death threat on August 22, and on August 23, Radio 10 correspondent Vinicio Aguilar was shot in the mouth by gunmen and left for dead. Following these incidents, the Commission granted Mr. Castaneda's request for preliminary relief, requesting the Guatemalan Government to provide protection for him and other Radio 10 personnel. However, eight months later the Guatemalan Government has still not complied with the Commission's request.

Last week's petition filed by Castaneda, coincidentally on the same day as the tragic murder of yet another Guatemalan journalist, Mario Rolando Lopez Sanchez of Radio Sonora, the most recent of a series of attacks and killings of Guatemalan journalists. Mr. Castaneda's petition accuses the Republic of Guatemala of violating four articles of the American Convention on Human Rights in its handling of this case, and demands that an independent and impartial investigation into these events be opened immediately.

"Ever since the unmasking of the death squads with ties to the government in the aftermath of the murders of the Salvadoran congressmen, we face extremely heightened risks," said Castaneda. "The State's unresponsive attitude is just another chapter in the widespread campaign of media intimidation by business elites and organized crime. Impunity for attacks and harassment of the press must no longer be tolerated."

Radio 10 is a news and talk radio station broadcasting from 1180 AM in Guatemala and on the web at www.radio10.com.gt. For more information, please contact Oscar Castaneda at (502) 2332-9308 or orcastaneda@radio10.com.gt.

Source: Radio 10

CONTACT: Oscar R. Castaneda, Director and Senior Correspondent, Radio
10, +502-2414-1150, orcastaneda@radio10.com.gt

Web site: http://www.radio10.com.gt/

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Profile: International Entertainment