(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN has added its voice to the condemnation of the attack on “ElPeriódico” newspaper publisher José Rubén Zamora Marroquín, his family and employees, on 24 June 2003. According to Zamora, eleven men and one woman gained entry to his home in Guatemala City by posing as investigators from the […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN has added its voice to the condemnation of the attack on “ElPeriódico” newspaper publisher José Rubén Zamora Marroquín, his family and employees, on 24 June 2003.
According to Zamora, eleven men and one woman gained entry to his home in Guatemala City by posing as investigators from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Once inside, they tied up the newspaper publisher, his wife, their two sons and three domestic employees. The men, who appeared to be receiving orders by phone, proceeded to threaten them with fire arms. Zamora was then taken to an inner courtyard where he was stripped, had a gun pointed at his head and chest, and was told he was going to be executed. He was blindfolded and taken back to the other captives. If any of the group moved or made any noise they were allegedly beaten.
After two to three hours, the attackers left the house, leaving Zamora with the message that he would be killed if he reported the attack and that the group knew his family’s movements. Zamora was also told, “You can thank God that everything has turned out all right . . . since you have such a beautiful family you should look after them, and don’t mess with the people at the top.” The day before, an “ElPeriódico” article had claimed that the country was being run not by the government but by a clandestine group of former military officers, including ruling party head and former dictator General Efraín Ríos Montt. Zamora has stated that he believes this is what sparked the attack on his family.
In a separate incident, Carmen Judith Morán Cruz received two anonymous death threats on 29 June 2003 in connection with her work for the independent news agency CERIGUA. The caller told her, “I’m giving you 24 hours to resign from CERIGUA because I’ve run out of patience with what they publish. If you don’t, your children and your family will suffer the consequences.”
PEN also recalls that Prensa Libre journalist Marielos Monzón reported receiving repeated death threats in March 2003.
