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Alert

Eight suspects in journalist's 2003 murder awaiting trial, masterminds still free

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 29 March 2007 IAPA press release:

IAPA calls for Brazilian journalist's murder to be solved

MIAMI, Florida (March 29, 2007) - In a new action in its hemisphere-wide campaign to create public awareness of the impunity surrounding crimes against journalists, the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today urged Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to order a speed-up in the investigation into the murder of the Nicanor Linhares Batista, owner and director of Vale do Jaguaribe AM radio station in Limoeiro do Norte, Ceará state, Brazil.

Linhares Batista criticized local government administration and was murdered by two masked men who entered the radio station studios on June 30, 2003 and shot him 10 times. Although there are eight suspects being held in custody awaiting trial, the masterminds of the crime continue to go unpunished.

For four years now, through ads published in more than 380 newspapers throughout the Americas, the IAPA has been inviting readers to go to its Web site, http://www.impunidad.com , and join its campaign "Let's Put an End to Impunity" in crimes against journalists.

The campaign is funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.