Freedom of Expression

Press Release 153/06

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION CONDEMNS THE MURDER OF JOURNALIST IN GUATEMALA AND DEMANDS PROMPT INVESTIGATION

Guatemala City, September 13, 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 murder of radio journalist Eduardo Heriberto Maas Bol in Guatemala. The Special Rapporteurship urges the Guatemalan authorities to investigate this incident swiftly and effectively in order to ensure that the persons responsible are duly punished and to determine whether the crime is related to the exercise of the journalistic profession.

According to the information received by the Office of the Special Rapporteur, on September 10, 2006, the corpse of Mr. Eduardo Maas Bol, correspondent of Radio Punto, was found in his automobile in Cobán, department of Alta Verapaz, with five bullet wounds.

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. Furthermore, Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression notes that: “the 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 States to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish their perpetrators and to ensure that victims receive adequate compensation”.

The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Ignacio J. Álvarez, noted from Guatemala that “the political will of the States to promptly investigate the crimes against journalists as well as the immediate and serious launching of the investigations are basic factors to the effectiveness of the domestic trials. The lack of an effective investigation can imply the international responsibility of the State determined by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the Inter-American Court on Human Rights”.

For additional information about the Office of the Special Rapporteur: http://www.cidh.org/relatoria