Freedom of Expression
Press Release 149/06
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION CONDEMNS ASSASSINATION OF JOURNALIST IN COLOMBIA AND DEMANDS PROMPT INVESTIGATION
Washington, D.C., August 11, 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. Milton Fabián Sánchez, a radio journalist with Yumbo Stéreo, in Colombia. The Rapporteurship urges the Colombian 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 connected to the exercise of the journalistic profession.
According to the information received by the Rapporteurship, during the night of August 9, 2006, Mr. Sánchez was shot three times by unknown assailants in Yumbo, district of Valle delCauca. It was indicated that Mr. Sánchez died shortly after being transported to a local health center. Mr. Sánchez conducted the community program Mesa Redonda where political topics were debated.
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 that “when investigating crimes against journalists it is especially important to charge not only the direct perpetrators, but also the masterminds and the additional individuals whose collaboration and tacit acceptance made these crimes possible.”
For additional information about the Office of the Special Rapporteur: http://www.cidh.org/relatoria