Murders of Journalists and Reporters, and Impunity for these Crimes In 2016, and thus far in 2017, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression received information about the murder of 10 journalists in Guatemala. Eight journalists were reported to have been murdered in 2016; nevertheless, it has not been determined whether their murders were connected to the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. According to the information available, the authorities opened investigations in those cases, but no answers have yet been provided with respect to the logical line of investigation into whether these crimes were connected to the work the victims were performing as journalists and media workers. The Office of the Special Rapporteur has received information about two other cases in 2017, which it is monitoring in order to establish whether they are related to the victims’ journalistic work. In its comments to the draft of this report, the State indicated that between 2012 and June 2017, the Public Prosecutor’s Office received 372 reports related to threates, violent attacks and murders of journalists, which lead to 17 judicial sentences: two acuittals and six convictions for crimes against life, as well as one acquittal and eight convictions for other crimes. Journalist Manuel Salvador Villagrán, who worked with different local media outlets in the municipality of San Jorge, Department of Zacapa, was murdered on January 19, 2017. He was also reportedly the head of the Department of Public Relations of the Municipality of San Jorge. Sources revealed that the journalist was shot several times while riding his motorcycle. According to publicly available information, significant progress has been made in the investigation of this crime. Also, on July 8, 2017, journalist and presenter Johnny Javier Guardado’s body was found in the municipality of El Chal, Department of Petén. According to the information available, he had been stabbed. Additionally, according to the information gathered by the Office of the Special Rapporteur and received during the on-site visit, Guatemala continues to have high levels of impunity for crimes involving the murder of journalists. Given the slow pace of the investigations, in most cases the authorities reportedly have not been able to determine whether these crimes are related to the journalistic work of the victims. According to Guatemalan freedom of expression organizations, that situation gives rise to self-censorship among journalists who do not know why they might be attacked.
Murders of Journalists and Reporters, and Impunity for these Crimes In 2016, and thus far in 2017, the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression received information about the murder of 10 journalists in Guatemala. Eight journalists were reported to have been murdered in 2016; nevertheless, it has not been determined whether their murders were connected to the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. According to the information available, the authorities opened investigations in those cases, but no answers have yet been provided with respect to the logical line of investigation into whether these crimes were connected to the work the victims were performing as journalists and media workers. The Office of the Special Rapporteur has received information about two other cases in 2017, which it is monitoring in order to establish whether they are related to the victims’ journalistic work. In its comments to the draft of this report, the State indicated that between 2012 and June 2017, the Public Prosecutor’s Office received 372 reports related to threates, violent attacks and murders of journalists, which lead to 17 judicial sentences: two acuittals and six convictions for crimes against life, as well as one acquittal and eight convictions for other crimes. Journalist Manuel Salvador Villagrán, who worked with different local media outlets in the municipality of San Jorge, Department of Zacapa, was murdered on January 19, 2017. He was also reportedly the head of the Department of Public Relations of the Municipality of San Jorge. Sources revealed that the journalist was shot several times while riding his motorcycle. According to publicly available information, significant progress has been made in the investigation of this crime. Also, on July 8, 2017, journalist and presenter Johnny Javier Guardado’s body was found in the municipality of El Chal, Department of Petén. According to the information available, he had been stabbed. Additionally, according to the information gathered by the Office of the Special Rapporteur and received during the on-site visit, Guatemala continues to have high levels of impunity for crimes involving the murder of journalists. Given the slow pace of the investigations, in most cases the authorities reportedly have not been able to determine whether these crimes are related to the journalistic work of the victims. According to Guatemalan freedom of expression organizations, that situation gives rise to self-censorship among journalists who do not know why they might be attacked.
Guatemala2017-en.docx