(APG/IFEX) – The following is a 17 July 2002 press release of the Press Freedom Committee of the Guatemalan Journalists Association (APG): The Press Freedom Committee of the Guatemalan Journalists Association (APG) condemns the burglary of the Jutiapa Department offices of the news agency CERIGUA (Centro de Reportes Informativos sobre Guatemala, CERIGUA). This incident represents […]
(APG/IFEX) – The following is a 17 July 2002 press release of the Press Freedom Committee of the Guatemalan Journalists Association (APG):
The Press Freedom Committee of the Guatemalan Journalists Association (APG) condemns the burglary of the Jutiapa Department offices of the news agency CERIGUA (Centro de Reportes Informativos sobre Guatemala, CERIGUA). This incident represents yet another attack on freedom of expression in Guatemala.
On 14 July 2002, unknown persons broke into the CERIGUA offices and stole a computer hard drive that contained information on several topics of national interest.
The CERIGUA office in Jutiapa also houses the Jutiapa Farmers Association (Asociacion de Campesinos de Jutiapa), which works with CERIGUA on its network of departmental correspondents project (Proyecto de Red de Corresponsales Departmentales). The network has been operating for the past five years.
The attack is yet another to add to the list of death threats and intimidation that has targeted human rights activists, farmers, columnists and journalists. The assaults have been committed by sectors of society that oppose peace, democracy and reconciliation in Guatemala, and who, through anonymity, spread terror and fear.
The committee urges President Alfonso Portillo’s government and the security authorities to find those responsible for the attack and punish them in accordance with the law.
The committee also requests that a stop be put to the wave of death threats, intimidation, assassinations and break-ins against human rights activists, religious groups, union representatives and journalists. These individuals have become the target of unknown assailants.
Moreover, the committee calls on national and international press and human rights organisations to support the victims and condemn the attacks. The committee notes that this is necessary so that together they can defend freedom of expression.
Guatemala, 17 July 2002
