Freedom of Expression

Press Release 176/07

PRESS RELEASE

 

PREN/176/07

 

 

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION DEPLORES MURDER OF JOURNALIST IN PARAGUAY AND DEMANDS AN INVESTIGATION

 

 

Washington, D.C, August 28, 2007- The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commision on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States deplores the murder of Alberto Palma Godoy, a Chilean journalist who worked in Paraguay as a reporter at radio Mayor Otaño and as correspondent at radio Chaco Boreal. The Office of the Special Rapporteur urges the Paraguayan authorities to investigate this crime promptly and effectively, to determine whether the murder was related to journalistic activity, and to duly punish those responsible.

 

According to the media and non governmental organizations, on August 22, Mr. Palma Godoy was having dinner with his partner Wilma Martinez at her house in Mayor Otaño, Itapua, when two persons wearing military uniforms entered and shot both of them. Mr. Palma Godoy was shot in the head, neck, arms and legs, and Ms. Martinez was wounded in one leg. The reporter used to cover the organized crime and its links with local politicians. Prior to his death, Mr. Palma Godoy had told his close friends that he had been receiving death threats because of his reporting.

 

The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Ignacio J. Alvarez, expressed his concern about this crime. "Murder is the most brutal way to limit freedom of expression. The Office of the Special Rapporteur calls on Paraguayan authorities to act with the due diligence to investigate the murder and to prosecute those responsible," Alvarez said. "It is especially important that in crimes against journalists the States investigate not only the direct perpetrators but also the instigators, conspirators and those who did nothing to stop these crimes."

 

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression recalls that, under the American Convention on Human Rights, the States have the duty to prevent, investigate, and sanction any violation of the rights recognized therein. Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression of the IACHR states 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."