Freedom of Expression
Press Release R106/10
PRESS RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR CONDEMNS MURDER
OF INDIGENOUS JOURNALIST IN
R106/10
According to the information received, Maya Aricape was in his house with his wife and two daughters when two armed men shot him. The 34-year-old leader was the secretary of the López Adentro Indigenous Council and a correspondent for Radio Pa´yumat, a community radio station of the Tejido de Comunicación [Communications Network] project.
The Office of the Special Rapporteur was informed that Maya Aricape used to report daily on Radio Pa´yumat, covering events in his community. He was also in charge of documenting his people’s activities and those of the indigenous organizations on video. It has been reported that, in carrying out this work, Maya Aricape was noted for speaking out firmly against all of the armed groups operating in indigenous territories.
The work of the Tejido de Comunicación, to which Maya Aricape dedicated his efforts, won it the Bartolomé de las Casas Award, given in
The Office of the Special Rapporteur reminds the State of the ninth principle of the IACHR Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, according to which "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 state to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish their perpetrators and to ensure that victims receive due compensation."
A crime against an indigenous journalist has especially serious effects on his community, given the often vulnerable status of indigenous peoples in the context of armed conflict. Therefore, the State must adopt essential policies of prevention and protection; it must also investigate the crime committed, punish the perpetrators, and provide redress to the community for the resulting harm.