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Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
Tue Jun 28, 2016, 11:58 PM Jun 2016

Radio journalist murdered in Guatemala

Radio journalist murdered in Guatemala



New York, June 28, 2016 -- Guatemalan authorities should conduct a thorough and credible investigation into the murder of the director of a radio station and bring all those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Unidentified assailants shot Álvaro Alfredo Aceituno López, director of the local station Radio Ilusión, at around 4 p.m. on Saturday, on the street where the station is located in the small, southeastern city of Coatepeque, according to his colleagues and press reports. One of the bullets hit Aceituno, 64, in the back of the head, according to press reports. The Guatemalan Red Cross rushed him to the hospital, where he died later on Saturday.

"The murder of Álvaro Alfredo Aceituno López is likely to further chill the climate for freedom of the press in Guatemala, where lawlessness and impunity already perpetuate a cycle of violence and intimidation," said Carlos Lauría, CPJ's senior program coordinator for the Americas. "In addition to investigating and prosecuting his case, the government must step up its efforts to protect journalists and to ensure they can work safely without fear of reprisal."

Leonel Mérida, who worked with Aceituno at Radio Ilusión, said that he mostly presented the news on his own radio show, "Acontecer Coatepecano," but sometimes made guest appearances on other programs and expressed opinions about local issues such as bad road repair. Mérida said that Aceituno had not told his colleagues he had received any threats before his murder. Family members told the Guatemalan press freedom group CERIGUA they were also not aware of any threats against Aceituno.

More:
https://cpj.org/2016/06/radio-journalist-murdered-in-guatemala.php

LBN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141503692

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