The threats, first reported on 23 July 2009, have resurfaced days after the recent killing of two environmentalists.
(AMARC/IFEX) – AMARC deplores the renewal of death threats against staff and journalists from Radio Victoria, a community radio station in the department of Cabañas, El Salvador. The threats, first reported on 23 July 2009, have resurfaced days after the recent killing of two environmentalists. A threatening letter has been reported to have been sent to the radio station stating:
“Well, we sent two down the hole, the question is who will be the third, perhaps Father Quintanilla or someone from the radio, it’s not a bad idea to follow up with one of the loud-mouths of Radio Victoria, we are not playing and we showed we have good financing and logistical capacity to drive out anybody, even if we walk a battalion of policemen watching them like dogs, we’ll shoot when we want to, the deaths will continue and no one will stop the vengeance that has started, we prefer that the third of the dead should be a presenter, or a correspondent, or someone else from that damn radio, the most likely target is a presenter, beware that we are not playing, this is the new wave of warnings after taking care of Ramiro.”
The threats followed the killings of two anti-mining activists in Cabañas department: Gustavo Marcelo Rivera in June and Ramiro Rivera on 20 December. Ramiro Rivera was the legal representative of the NGO Cabañas Environment Committee (Comité Ambiental de Cabañas), and had survived an attack in August in which he was shot eight times. On 26 December, another member of the Cabañas Environment Committee was killed. Dora Alicia Recinos Sorto, who was eight months pregnant, was shot dead, and her two-year-old child was wounded. Her husband, José Santos Rodríguez, is the Cabañas Environment Committee spokesperson.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to authorities:
– calling on them to order a prompt, full and independent investigation into the threats against Radio Victoria staff, and the recent killing of Ramiro Rivera and Dora Alicia Recinos Sorto, environmental activists in Cabañas department, and to bring those responsible to justice
– requesting that they ensure that full protection is provided to all Radio Victoria staff and volunteers, and to members of the Cabañas Environment Committee and their relatives who have received threats
APPEALS TO:
Presidente Mauricio Funes
(President)
Casa Presidencial
Alameda Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo, No. 5500
San Salvador, El Salvador
Fax: +503 2243 9947
Fiscal General
(Attorney General)
Fiscalía General de la República
Final 4a Calle Oriente y 19a Avenida Sur, Residencial Primavera
Santa Tecla, La Libertad
San Salvador, El Salvador
Fax : +503 2523 7170
E-mail: astor.escalante@fgr.gob.sv
E-mail: cc: radelgado@fgr.gob.sv
Comisionado Carlos Asencio Girón
Director de la Policía Nacional Civil
(National Police Director)
Policía Nacional Civil
6ta. Calle Oriente entre 8va y 10ma
Ave. Sur, # 42 Barrio La Vega
San Salvador, El Salvador
E-mail: carlosascencio@pnc.gob.sv
Please send copies and messages of support to:
Radio Victoria
Av. José Matias Delgado #47
Victoria, Cabañas, El Salvador, C.A.
E-mail: radiovictoriapopular@yahoo.es
http://www.radiovictoria.org
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
