(RSF/IFEX) – On 25 July 2003, RSF expressed shock at the 24 July death of Hector Ramírez of Radio Sonora and a number of violent attacks against other journalists by supporters of General Efraín Ríos Montt. The general’s supporters blame the press for a court decision that is threatening his bid for the presidential candidacy […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 25 July 2003, RSF expressed shock at the 24 July death of Hector Ramírez of Radio Sonora and a number of violent attacks against other journalists by supporters of General Efraín Ríos Montt. The general’s supporters blame the press for a court decision that is threatening his bid for the presidential candidacy for the ruling Guatemala Republican Front (FRG) party in the upcoming elections.
“The violent attacks by demonstrators against the press are extremely serious and must not remain unpunished,” RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard said in a letter to President Alfonso Portillo. “It is your duty to ensure that those responsible are identified and punished, and we caution you against any laxity because the assailants came from within the ranks of your own party,” he continued.
The letter stressed that RSF was very concerned by the violent incidents of 24 July, as they come on the heels of threats and attacks against some 10 journalists in recent weeks (see IFEX alerts of 21, 15, 9 and 4 July, 27 and 25 June 2003). “Halting this spiral of violence is a matter of great urgency,” Ménard concluded.
Ramírez, 61, died of a heart attack as he was being chased by FRG supporters through the streets of Guatemala City. He worked for the news programme “Notisiete” on the Canal 7 television station, as well as for Radio Sonora.
A number of other journalists came under attack when they tried to approach buildings that had been sealed off by Ríos Montt’s supporters. Some of the demonstrators wore masks and carried guns or knives. They insulted the journalists, chased them and threatened to beat them.
Those attacked include Juan Carlos Torres, a photographer with the daily “elPeriódico”, and Hector Estrada, a cameraman with Guatevisión television station, who managed to escape after demonstrators doused them with petrol with the intention of burning them alive. Torres was hospitalised and his camera equipment was destroyed.
The daily newspaper “Prensa Libre” reported that Donald González, a journalist with a local radio station, saw his motorcycle being destroyed and that a photographer for “Siglo XXI” newspaper was badly beaten by demonstrators who tried to rob his equipment.
The organisation Periodistas Frente a la Corrupción (Journalists against Corruption) reported that Edgar Valle, another journalist with “Notisiete,” and his cameraman were attacked by Ríos Montt’s supporters outside the Supreme Court.
Agence France-Presse reported that later in the day, the offices of three daily newspapers, “Prensa Libre”, “elPeriódico” and “Nuestro Diario”, had to be partially evacuated after calls were received warning that they could be the target of attacks. Only the newspapers’ journalists stayed behind. According to an “elPeriódico” employee, 300 demonstrators gathered outside the newspaper’s offices.
