(RSF/IFEX) – Four months after the assassination of journalist Parmenio Medina, RSF is concerned over the lack of progress in the investigation. In a letter to President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, RSF asked the government to continue with its efforts to shed light on the incident and devote more resources to the inquiry. “It is inconceivable […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Four months after the assassination of journalist Parmenio Medina, RSF is concerned over the lack of progress in the investigation. In a letter to President Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, RSF asked the government to continue with its efforts to shed light on the incident and devote more resources to the inquiry. “It is inconceivable that impunity may be taking root in Costa Rica,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. “To tolerate impunity is to accept, or at the very least consider the risk that further crimes against journalists will be committed. This is a threat that could result in self-censorship on the part of journalists,” Ménard added.
According to information collected by RSF, three months after the journalist’s assassination, Linneth Saborio, former director of the Judicial Investigations Department (Organismo de Investigacion Judicial), admitted that no serious leads had been uncovered, despite the fact that a special team had been assigned to the case. On 8 October 2001, Costa Rican President Rodríguez appealed to the public to collaborate with the investigation and provide testimony. On each anniversary of Medina’s death, civil society representatives have been commemorating the assassination and calling for justice.
For twenty-eight years, Medina was host of the satirical programme “The Kick” (“La Patada”), broadcast on Radio Monumental. He was killed on 7 July by unknown individuals as he was returning home after having recorded the programme.
In October 1999, Medina made a series of accusations about alleged fiscal improprieties at the Catholic radio station Radio María de Guadalupe. One year later, he reported having seen Father Minor Calvo, the Catholic radio station’s founder, in the company of a young man in a park frequented by homosexuals. In May 2001, Medina received threats after revealing additional information about Father Calvo on “The Kick.” On 9 May, unknown assailants fired bullets at his house. The journalist was granted police protection until he requested that it be withdrawn, at the beginning of June.
On 9 August, the newspaper “La Prensa Libre” reported that, according to a source in the courts, Medina had been caught in the middle of a war between drug traffickers. While he was investigating a well-known individual, the journalist had uncovered information on the laundering of money by an important drug cartel. Medina was allegedly killed after the cartel realised that he was receiving information from a rival mafia organisation.
