Freedom of Expression

Press Release R 135/14

PRESS RELEASE

 

R 135/14

 

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR CODEMNS MURDER OF JOURNALIST IN PERU

 

Washington D.C., November 14, 2014. – The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder of Fernando Raymondi, a journalism student and worker of the magazine Caretas, which took place on November 9, in San Vicente de Cañete, Departament of Lima, Peru. The Office of the Special Rapporteur expresses its concern and urges the Peruvian authorities to take urgent action to establish the motive of the crime and to active all the legal instruments available to identify and punish the perpetrators and masterminds behind this crime.

 

According to the information received, on the night of November 9, Fernando Raymondi was in his father’s food store when two strangers entered and shot him, even though they indicated where they kept the store’s money. Reportedly, Raymondi died on his way to the hospital.

 

Raymondi studied journalism at San Martin de Porres University and worked in the investigative unit of the magazine Caretas. The magazine reported that the journalist was investigating the existence of contract killers in Cañete.

 

The Peruvian National Police director stated that the hypothesis handled so far was related to an attempted assault that resulted in the death of the journalist.

 

To the Office of the Special Rapporteur, it is fundamental that the Peruvian State clarifies as soon as possible the motive behind this crime and urges the authorities to thoroughly investigate the hypothesis that the crime could have been associated with the journalist’s work. Moreover, the State should identify, prosecute, and punish those responsible; and adopt fair measures of reparation for the victim's family.

 

Principle 9 of the IACHR Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression states: "[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 Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression was created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to encourage the defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression in the hemisphere, given the fundamental role this right plays in consolidating and developing the democratic system.