(CERIGUA/IFEX) – On 14 October 2004, members of the National Civil Police’s (Policía Nacional Civil, PNC) Special Police Force (Fuerza Especial Policial, FEP) harassed three journalists while they were covering celebrations after Guatemala defeated Honduras in a football games. One of the journalists was assaulted and injured in the incident, which took place at “El […]
(CERIGUA/IFEX) – On 14 October 2004, members of the National Civil Police’s (Policía Nacional Civil, PNC) Special Police Force (Fuerza Especial Policial, FEP) harassed three journalists while they were covering celebrations after Guatemala defeated Honduras in a football games. One of the journalists was assaulted and injured in the incident, which took place at “El Obelisco”, near the end of Guatemala City’s Avenida Reforma, where hundreds of people had gathered.
According to the journalists, an FEP contingent arrived and approached a group of about 15 people, using course language to address them. The group, which included 11 journalists, was forced to leave the area.
Francisco Gonzáles Arrecis, Marvin del Cid and Miguel Gonzáles Moraga, of the daily “Prensa Libre”, identified themselves as journalists to the head of the FEP contingent and told him that the officers were restricting the journalist’s right to move freely.
All three journalists said that when they identified themselves as journalists, the police officer began to insult them even more aggressively. He subsequently smashed González Moraga’s camera on the pavement and struck the journalist.
Several people were detained or injured during the eviction from the area. The police officers were not carrying any identification.
This is not the first time this type of incident has taken place in Guatemala. In the last few years, journalists, especially those working in the countryside, have been the target of attacks, death threats and even assassinations because of their work.
