(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 7 May 2000 IFJ media release: IFJ Condemns “Brutal and Cowardly Murder” of Spanish Journalist The International Federation of Journalists today accused terrorists in Spain of “mindless brutality and a cowardly betrayal of democracy and freedom” after the shooting of El Mundo journalist Jose Luis Lopez de la Calle […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 7 May 2000 IFJ media release:
IFJ Condemns “Brutal and Cowardly Murder” of Spanish Journalist
The International Federation of Journalists today accused terrorists in Spain of “mindless brutality and a cowardly betrayal of democracy and freedom” after the shooting of El Mundo journalist Jose Luis Lopez de la Calle outside his home in the Basque Country.
He was shot in the head and stomach as he was leaving his home in Andouain. According to police, his killing is in response to his outspoken opposition to the Basque guerrilla group ETA.
“No-one wins freedom over the dead bodies of journalists,” said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ, which is the world’s largest journalists’ organisation and represents three national journalists’ unions in Spain, including one that covers journalists and media staff working in the Basque region.
“All of our members are shocked by this latest and most horrifying attack on press freedom and journalists’ rights,” said White. “We send a heartfelt message of sympathy to Lopez de la Calle’s family, friends and colleagues, but we remain absolutely steadfast in our opposition to violence of this kind. Journalists will not be intimidated into silence by mindless brutality by those who betray democracy and freedom.”
The killing follows a number of violent attacks on journalists and Spanish news media in the months since the Basque terrorist group ETA ended a 14-month cease-fire late last year. The IFJ protested strongly last month after two Spanish journalists received package bombs believed to have been sent by ETA. Police managed to disarm both bombs without injury.
The IFJ notes that the killing of Lopez de la Calle brings the number of journalists killed so far since the beginning of the year to 25.
The IFJ represents more than 450,000 journalists in more than 100 countries around the world.
