Venezuela: Editor and columnist shot dead
Published: January 21, 2009
English PEN condemns the murder of newspaper editor and columnist Orel Zambrano, who was shot dead on 16 January 2009. The killing came just three days after the attempted murder of another editor, Rafael Finol, on 13 January. English PEN is calling on the Venezuelan government to investigate these crimes as a matter of urgency and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Orel Zambrano (or Sambrano), director and editor of the political weekly ABC and columnist for the regional daily Notitarde, in Valencia, Carabobo state, was shot dead on 16 January 2009. The motive of the crime is yet to be established, although it is thought that Zambrano may have been targeted for recent articles on drugs trafficking.
Zambrano, who was also vice-president of a radio station as well as a university professor and a practising lawyer, was walking from his car to a film rental store in Valencia when he was approached by two men on a motorbike, one of whom shot him three times at close range. The assailants then fled, leaving Zambrano to die at the scene from a bullet wound to the back of his head.
The journalist had reportedly covered several drug trafficking cases in recent weeks. One story in particular was on an influential business family in the region, three members of which were arrested in possession of 400 kilos of cocaine on 14 November 2008 and are now the subject of an investigation by the national prosecutor's office. Zambrano had not reported any previous threats.
The Public Ministry (Ministerio Público) said that the judicial police had opened an investigation into Zambrano's murder. The police have yet to make any statements but the circumstances of his death have given rise to speculation that a hired assassin was responsible.
Zambrano's death came just three days after the attempted murder of Rafael Finol, political editor for the daily newspaper El Regional, who was shot at outside the newspaper's offices in Acarigua, Portuguesa state, on 13 January. Finol was rushed to hospital with a head wound but is reportedly making a good recovery. He believes that the attack was in reprisal for the newspaper's support of President Chávez, whom Finol had recently interviewed.
Background:
Practising journalism in Venezuela has become increasingly hazardous in recent years, with attacks on print journalists rising by 50 percent from 13 incidents recorded by International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee in 2007 to 19 in 2008.
2008 saw the murder of a newspaper director and the imprisonment on dubious charges and alleged torture of an editor. Physical assaults in particular rose, with eight journalists and one newspaper attacked. The majority of attacks were reportedly carried out by individuals associated to the state or groups identified as pro-government, in retaliation for critical reporting on state activities and corruption or for allegedly encouraging assassination attempts on President Chávez.
To read RSF's report on this case in English, please click here. For the Spanish version, please click here.
Please send appeals:
• Expressing shock at the murder of newspaper editor and columnist Orel Zambrano on 16 January 2009, and the attempted murder of political editor Rafael Finol on 13 January 2009;• Expressing concern that both journalists may have been targeted for exercising their internationally recognised right to freedom of expression and opinion; • Calling on the Venezuelan authorities to investigate these crimes as a matter of urgency and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Appeals to:
Minister of Justice and the Interior Sr. Ramón Rodríguez ChacínMinisterio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Interiores y JusticiaAv. Urdaneta, Edif. Sede MIJ, Piso 1, Carmelitas, Caracas, VenezuelaFax: 58 212 506 1557Salutation: Señor Ministro/Dear Minister
Attorney GeneralDra. Luisa Ortega DíazFiscal General de la RepúblicaFiscalía General de la RepúblicaAvda. México, Manduca a Pelelojo, Edif. Sede Fiscalía Geneal de la República, La Candelaria, Caracas, VenezuelaFax: 58 212 509 8504mp@fiscalia.gov.ve Salutation: Señora Fiscal General/ Dear Attorney General
Please also send copies of your appeal letters to the Venezuelan Embassy in the UK:
His Excellency Dr Samuel R Moncada A1 Cromwell RoadLondon SW7 2HWFax: 020 7589 8887
Email ambassador@venezlon.co.uk
Published: January 21, 2009
English PEN condemns the murder of newspaper editor and columnist Orel Zambrano, who was shot dead on 16 January 2009. The killing came just three days after the attempted murder of another editor, Rafael Finol, on 13 January. English PEN is calling on the Venezuelan government to investigate these crimes as a matter of urgency and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Orel Zambrano (or Sambrano), director and editor of the political weekly ABC and columnist for the regional daily Notitarde, in Valencia, Carabobo state, was shot dead on 16 January 2009. The motive of the crime is yet to be established, although it is thought that Zambrano may have been targeted for recent articles on drugs trafficking.
Zambrano, who was also vice-president of a radio station as well as a university professor and a practising lawyer, was walking from his car to a film rental store in Valencia when he was approached by two men on a motorbike, one of whom shot him three times at close range. The assailants then fled, leaving Zambrano to die at the scene from a bullet wound to the back of his head.
The journalist had reportedly covered several drug trafficking cases in recent weeks. One story in particular was on an influential business family in the region, three members of which were arrested in possession of 400 kilos of cocaine on 14 November 2008 and are now the subject of an investigation by the national prosecutor's office. Zambrano had not reported any previous threats.
The Public Ministry (Ministerio Público) said that the judicial police had opened an investigation into Zambrano's murder. The police have yet to make any statements but the circumstances of his death have given rise to speculation that a hired assassin was responsible.
Zambrano's death came just three days after the attempted murder of Rafael Finol, political editor for the daily newspaper El Regional, who was shot at outside the newspaper's offices in Acarigua, Portuguesa state, on 13 January. Finol was rushed to hospital with a head wound but is reportedly making a good recovery. He believes that the attack was in reprisal for the newspaper's support of President Chávez, whom Finol had recently interviewed.
Background:
Practising journalism in Venezuela has become increasingly hazardous in recent years, with attacks on print journalists rising by 50 percent from 13 incidents recorded by International PEN's Writers in Prison Committee in 2007 to 19 in 2008.
2008 saw the murder of a newspaper director and the imprisonment on dubious charges and alleged torture of an editor. Physical assaults in particular rose, with eight journalists and one newspaper attacked. The majority of attacks were reportedly carried out by individuals associated to the state or groups identified as pro-government, in retaliation for critical reporting on state activities and corruption or for allegedly encouraging assassination attempts on President Chávez.
To read RSF's report on this case in English, please click here. For the Spanish version, please click here.
Please send appeals:
• Expressing shock at the murder of newspaper editor and columnist Orel Zambrano on 16 January 2009, and the attempted murder of political editor Rafael Finol on 13 January 2009;• Expressing concern that both journalists may have been targeted for exercising their internationally recognised right to freedom of expression and opinion; • Calling on the Venezuelan authorities to investigate these crimes as a matter of urgency and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Appeals to:
Minister of Justice and the Interior Sr. Ramón Rodríguez ChacínMinisterio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Interiores y JusticiaAv. Urdaneta, Edif. Sede MIJ, Piso 1, Carmelitas, Caracas, VenezuelaFax: 58 212 506 1557Salutation: Señor Ministro/Dear Minister
Attorney GeneralDra. Luisa Ortega DíazFiscal General de la RepúblicaFiscalía General de la RepúblicaAvda. México, Manduca a Pelelojo, Edif. Sede Fiscalía Geneal de la República, La Candelaria, Caracas, VenezuelaFax: 58 212 509 8504mp@fiscalia.gov.ve Salutation: Señora Fiscal General/ Dear Attorney General
Please also send copies of your appeal letters to the Venezuelan Embassy in the UK:
His Excellency Dr Samuel R Moncada A1 Cromwell RoadLondon SW7 2HWFax: 020 7589 8887
Email ambassador@venezlon.co.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment