CERIGUA (Centro de Reportes Informativos sobre Guatemala) has released a new report on the state of free expression in Guatemala which shows how dangerous it continues to be for journalists in the country.

Between 1 January and 31 July 2005, 31 journalists were victims of violent attacks, including a radio station operator outside of the capital who was murdered, according to the report.

Guatemala City recorded the highest number of attacks, with eight, followed by the regional departments of Huehuetenango, Chiquimula, Zacapa, Sololá, Retalhuleu, Jalapa, Escuintla, San Marcos, Jutiapa, Totonicapán and Baja Verapaz.

The majority of this year's attacks came in response to journalists' attempts to obtain information from government institutions and courts, or cover protests and demonstrations by social groups and former members of the feared paramilitary anti-insurgency groups that were organised by the military in the 1980s.

Since 1 January 2003, there have been more than 150 violent attacks against journalists, three of which resulted in death, says CERIGUA.

The full report, available only in Spanish, can be obtained by e-mailing: observatorioperiodistas@cerigua.org or informacion@cerigua.org

For other reports on Guatemala, see:

- International Press Institute: http://www.freemedia.at/wpfr/Americas/guatemal.htm
- Committee to Protect Journalists: http://www.cpj.org/attacks04/americas04/guatemala.html
- Human Rights Watch: http://hrw.org/english/docs/2005/01/13/guatem9849.htm
- Freedom House: http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2004/countryratings/guatemala.htm