Freedom of Expression
Press Release 177/ 07
PRESS RELEASE
PREN/177/07
OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION REQUESTS AN INVESTIGATION ON COLOMBIAN JOURNALIST’S MURDER
Washington, D.C, September 7, 2007- The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commision on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States requests an exhaustive investigation on the murder of Colombian journalists Javier Darío Arroyave, who worked at Ondas del Valle radio station and was a correspondent for newspaper El Tiempo.
Mr. Arroyave’s body was found in his house on September 5, 2007, said the local media and non-governmental organizations. He was stabbed several times and his laptop was stolen. Mr. Arroyave was a news anchor at Ondas del Valle radio and director of "Cómo les parece," a news show from Cartago. Police authorities made no assertions about the crime and the reporter's journalistic activities. But Arroyave's colleagues believe that this hypothesis should not be discharged. In May 2005, Arroyave temporarily canceled his news program because of pressure from local authorities, whom had been accused for corruption by the reporter. Yet, Mr. Arroyave did not receive threats prior to his death, said his colleagues.
The Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Ignacio J. Alvarez, expressed his concern about this crime. "Murder is the most brutal way to limit freedom of expression. The Office of the Special Rapporteur calls on Colombian authorities to act with the due diligence to investigate the murder and to prosecute those responsible," Alvarez said.
The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression recalls that, under the American Convention on Human Rights, the States have the duty to prevent, investigate, and sanction any violation of the rights recognized therein. Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression of the IACHR states that "the murder, kidnapping, intimidation of and/or threats to social communicators, as well as the material destruction of communications media violate the fundamental rights of individuals and strongly restrict freedom of expression."
For additional information about the Office of the Special Rapporteur: http://www.cidh.org/relatoria/index.asp?lID=1