| Dangers for Journalists in Latin America |
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| World Affairs Talk | |
| Wednesday, 16 May 2007 | |
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Latin American journalists who investigate corruption, drug trafficking and other big-bucks crimes are routinely killed. This is especially true in rural areas, but even prominent journalists in capital cities face the risks of being murdered for the reports they publish. Journalists were killed during the civil-military dictatorships that gained strength in the 1970's. However, this situation has continued up to this day, despite the return to civilian rule. In Latin America, with or without military conflicts, journalists are gunned down by drug-traffickers and by various mafias invariably for having witnessed crimes. The Organization of American States' Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression reported that in the last 10 years 83 journalists have been killed in Colombia and 24 in each of Brazil and Mexico. The O.A.S. said that journalists have also been killed in Guatemala, Ecuador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, among other countries. Latin American history is littered with impunity. According to a study by the United States-based Committee to Protect Journalists, between 1992 and 2006, 580 journalists were killed; in 85 percent of the cases, no one was held accountable. However, one important exception has emerged lately. In Chile, , 20 years after journalist José Carrasco Tapia was assassinated, his murderers were brought to justice and received sentences 13 years in prison and other penalties. Carrasco Tapia, the head of the College of Journalists and the international editor of Análisis magazine, was brutally murdered with 13 gunshots on Sept. 8, 1986. In addition, the government was ordered to pay 2.125 million pesos ($3,921) to the victims' widows, children, and other survivors. In December 2006, the United Nations Security Council approved a resolution that “condemns all attacks against journalists in situations of conflict, and calls upon warring factions to respect communicators and their role”. This resolution can only be in effect if the governments take steps accordingly. As long as the mafia world is in full control, journalists will be facing the same fate as now. Share & Bookmark             |
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