The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned the murder of journalist Carlos Humberto Cal Ical, in Guatemala, and in a statement published this Wednesday, April 29, he urged the authorities to develop an exhaustive, transparent and timely investigation that allows those responsible to be identified, prosecuted and clarify the motive for the crime.
The IAPA warned that this new attack deepens the cycle of violence and impunity that continues to threaten journalism in the Americas.
On April 26, Cal Ical, 45, was the victim of an armed attack. The attackers shot him at least five times, according to press reports. The crime occurred near his home, in San Cristóbal Verapaz.
The president of the IAPA, Pierre Manigault, expressed his condolences to the journalist’s family and expressed his solidarity with Guatemalan journalists.
Manigault stressed that “the murder of a journalist, added to the impunity that usually surrounds most of these crimes, constitutes one of the most serious violations of press freedom that we must confront with urgency and determination.”
The president of the Commission on Freedom of the Press and Information, Martha Ramos, stated: “This crime not only mourns Guatemalan journalism, but also sends a message of intimidation to the entire press in the region.”
Ramos added: “We cannot allow violence to silence informative work. It is essential that the State guarantee justice and safe conditions for the exercise of journalism.”
In Guatemala—according to the report approved at the recent semiannual meeting of the IAPA—attacks against journalists in digital environments persist, including acts of threats and harassment, as well as risks of judicial harassment linked to the coverage of sensitive issues.
The report indicates that, in the interior of the country, the concentration of power in local authorities and the influence of organized crime networks force some reporters to cover certain areas where they are not known, as a mechanism to reduce risks.
Furthermore, the Association of Journalists and Social Communicators of Alta Verapaz condemned the murder, demanded justice and urged the Public Ministry to act immediately, as well as the Government to implement effective protection measures for journalists.
To read more: The IAPA warns at a semiannual meeting of a “dark horizon” for journalism
The organization warned that the department where the crime occurred “is particularly dangerous for those who cover social and environmental conflicts.”
Its president, Renaldo Yash, pointed out that Cal Ical practiced journalism through social networks and, although no previous threats had been reported, it is not ruled out that the murder is linked to his informative work, according to the local press.
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