Freedom of Expression

Press Release 146/06

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION CONDEMNS THE ASSASSINATION OF TWO JOURNALISTS IN BRAZIL AND REQUEST AN ADEQUATE INVESTIGATION

Washington, D.C., July 28, 2006. The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the OAS condemns the assassination of Mr. Manoel Paulino da Silva, director of the daily Hoje Jornal. According to the received information, Manoel Paulino da Silva was driving his car in the city of Guarujá, State of São Paulo on the morning of July 20, 2006, when individuals approached and shot in his direction. Afterwards, his vehicle crashed into a wall and ignited.

Furthermore, the Special Rapporteurship condemns the assassination of Mr. Ajuricaba Monassa de Paula, independent journalist and member of the Brazilian Press Association. The Rapporteurship was informed that Mr. Ajuricaba de Paula died on July 24, 2006, after he was brutally beaten by a councilman of the city of Guapirimim, State of Rio de Janeiro. It has been indicated that the journalist would occasionally publish news criticizing the performance of the aforementioned councilman and of the city’s administration.  

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression emphasizes that according to the American Convention on Human Rights States have the duty to prevent, investigate, and punish all violations of rights recognized therein. Accordingly, the Special Rapporteurship urges the Brazilian authorities to investigate both murders swiftly and effectively in order to ensure that the responsible persons be duly punished and that it be determined if the murders were related to the exercise of the journalistic activity.

Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression notes that: “[t]he murder, kidnapping, intimidation of and/or threats to social communicators, as well as the material destruction of communications media violate the fundamental rights of individuals and strongly restrict freedom of expression. It is the duty of the state to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish their perpetrators and to ensure that victims receive due compensation”.

The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Ignacio Álvarez, indicated that “it is especially important that in crimes against journalists the State investigate not only the direct perpetrators, but also the masterminds and the persons whose collaboration and toleration made these crimes possible.”

For More Information on the Office of the Special Rapporteur: http://www.cidh.org/relatoria