Freedom of Expression

Press Release R 24/08

PRESS RELEASE

PREN R24/08

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION DEPLORES MURDER OF NEWSPAPER’S VICE PRESIDENT IN VENEZUELA

AND DEMANDS INVESTIGATION

Washington, D.C, June 5, 2008 - The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States deplores the murder of Pierre Fould Gerges, Vice President of the daily Reporte Diario de la Economía in Caracas, Venezuela. The Office of the Special Rapporteur urges Venezuelan authorities to investigate this crime promptly and effectively, and to duly prosecute those responsible.

According to the local media, on June 2, 2008, around 5.30 pm, Pierre Gerges left the newspaper using the car of his brother, Tannous Gerges, president of Reporte Diario de la Economía. When he stopped at a gas station, two unidentified individuals on a motorcycle approached Pierre Gerges and shot him at least ten times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His brother and several senior staff members had been receiving telephone and e-mail death threats linked to the editorial opinion of the newspaper which has been critical of government corruption. In one of the emails, Tannous Gerges’ family was specifically threatened.

Under the American Convention on Human Rights, 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

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