Freedom of Expression
Press Release 134/06 (Rev. 1)
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION DEPLORES ASSASSINATION IN VENEZUELA
Washington, D.C., April 6, 2006. The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the OAS deplores the assassination of Mr. Jorge Aguirre, photographer for the daily newspaper El Mundo, and urges the Venezuelan authorities to investigate this incident swiftly and effectively, and to ensure that the persons responsible be duly punished.
According to the information received, Mr. Aguirre was assassinated yesterday afternoon in a central area of Caracas, while covering protests sparked by the killings of Mr. Miguel Rivas and the brothers Bryan, Kevin, and Jason Faddoul, whose corpses recently appeared several weeks after they had been kidnapped. The assassination of Mr. Aguirre was committed by a person riding on a motorcycle who shot at him in public, while he was inside a car. Before dying, Mr. Aguirre was able to photograph the person who shot him.
Under the American Convention on Human Rights, the states have the duty to prevent, investigate, and punish all violations of rights recognized therein. A meticulous, effective, and swift investigation into the crimes against journalists and others who work with the media is essential to send a firm message that the State does not tolerate such grave violations of the freedom of expression, and to ensure journalists that they can continue to do their work safely.
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 state to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish their perpetrators and to ensure that victims receive due compensation.”
Mr. Ignacio J. Alvarez, recently chosen as Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, stated, “our Hemisphere is one the most dangerous regions in the world for the exercise of journalism.” He added: “the assassination of journalists is certainly the most brutal form of curtailing the freedom of expression. Impunity with respect to such cases, which is a trend in our region, is an aggravating factor that facilitates the continuation of killings of journalists.”
In coming months the Office of the Special Rapporteur will publish a detailed study on the assassinations of journalists in recent years in the region.