25 June 2009

Alert

SPP condemns attack on journalist Santiago Benítez's residence


Incident details

Attack

Santiago Benítez, Journalist

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(SPP/IFEX) – SPP expresses its concern over the attack suffered by Santiago Benítez, a journalist for Radio Murucuyá, in Pedro Juan Caballero, in the department of Amambay. The attack took place at approximately 5:15 a.m on 21 June 2009 when unidentified individuals fired a hail of bullets at Benítez's home. The house was hit nine times and the journalist said most of the bullets were directed at a part of the building where his bedroom was previously located.

Benítez hosts a morning radio programme in which he regularly speaks about the insecurity that the population in the area faces. The manner in which the attack was carried out would appear to follow the style used by hired killers working for or with drug traffickers in the area.

The city of Pedro Juan Caballero has one of the highest levels of violent deaths in Paraguay.

SPP calls on the authorities to investigate the attack on the Benítez residence and punish those found to be responsible for it. The organisation regards the actions against Benítez as an attack on freedom of expression and an attempt to silence journalists.

Source

Sindicato de Periodistas del Paraguay
Herrera 948 casi Estados Unidos
Código Postal 1214
Asunción
Paraguay
sppinfo (@) rieder.net
Phone: +595 21 440617
Fax: +595 21 440617
 

Paraguay

Journalists assaulted by police, prevented from speaking to detainees 22 January 2010 Journalists Rosendo Duarte and William Aquino face defamation charges in two separate cases brought against them by local politicians 27 March 2009 Community radio director Martín Ocampos Páez killed 16 February 2009 Correspondent Aldo Lezcano assaulted, receives death threat; journalist Richard Villasboa and camera operator Blas Salcedo assaulted, expelled from penitentiary 11 February 2009


 
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