Journalist receives death threats
PRESS RELEASE/ALERT - GUATEMALA
11 July 2002
Journalist receives death threats
SOURCE: Press Freedom Committee of the Guatemalan Journalists Association
(APG),
Guatemala City
(APG/IFEX) - The following is an excerpt from an 8 July 2002 press release
by
the Press Freedom Committee of the APG. The original Spanish version
is
distributed in its entirety:
The Press Freedom Committee of the Guatemalan Journalists Association
(APG)
condemns the threats received by Adrián Zapata, columnist for
Siglo XXI
The Press Freedom Committee condemns the threats received by Siglo XXI
columnist
Adrián Zapata and denounces those who anonymously try to silence
Guatemalans.
The Siglo XXI columnist has exercised his right as a citizen to express
his
opinion through the written press and in interviews broadcast via radio
and
television. As a result, he has become the target of "mafias", who wish
to
silence him.
On Sunday 7 July 2002, Zapata received a telephone call at his home
from an
individual claiming to be a member of "organised crime", who warned
him that he
was going to be assassinated. The journalist is also a political analyst
and
leader. He belongs to Grupo Barómetro and is a professor at the
Universidad de
San Carlos de Guatemala and the Universidad Rafael Landivar.
The Press Freedom Committee has expressed its support for columnist
Zapata. It
calls on organisations working for the defense of journalists to speak
out
against the alarming situation in Guatemala and on human rights groups
to take
action so that further attacks are prevented.
PRESS FREEDOM COMMITTEE
APG
Guatemala, 8 July 2002
For further information, contact the APG, 14 calle 3-29 zona 1, Ciudad
de
Guatemala, Guatemala, C.A., tel: +502 232 1813, fax: +502 238 2781,
e-mail:
apege@intelnet.net.gt
The information contained in this press release/alert is the sole responsibility
of the Press Freedom Committee of the APG. In citing this material for
broadcast
or publication, please credit the Press Freedom Committee of the APG.
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