[cma-l] FW: community radio workers threatened and killed

Tue Jan 5 18:10:57 GMT 2010

Dear Al, Kate

Thank you for drawing attention to this.

AMARC's Latin America and Caribbean office issued 
a news alert on this matter on 31 December at:
http://legislaciones.item.org.uy/index?q=node/1158

It is based on a report from Diario Co Latino, dated 28 December:
http://www.diariocolatino.com/es/20091228/nacionales/75137/?tpl=69

There is a rough translation below, plus some 
guidance from Amnesty on action that can be taken 
- letters to relevant authorities and their addresses. Please do act on this.

There will be a similar action alert distributed shortly from AMARC.

Regards

Steve

Diario Co Latino, 28 December 2009

Threats resurface against
journalists of Radio Victoria

Death threats against staff and journalists from 
Radio Victoria have resurfaced. After the killing 
of two environmentalists in the department of 
Cabañas, a threatening letter arrived at the radio station.

The document, which was circulated to several 
e-mails, reads: "Well, we sent two down the hole, 
the question is who will be the third, perhaps 
Father Quintanilla or someone from the radio, 
it's not a bad idea to follow up with one of the 
loud-mouths of Radio Victoria, we are not playing 
and we showed we have good financing and 
logistical capacity to drive out anybody, even if 
we walk a battalion of policemen watching them 
like dogs, we'll shoot when we want to, the 
deaths will continue and no one will stop the 
vengeance that has started, we prefer that the 
third of the dead should be a presenter, or a 
correspondent, or someone else from that damn 
radio, the most likely target is a presenter, 
beware that we are not playing, this is the new 
wave of warnings after taking care of Ramiro*".

[*Ramiro Rivera, anti mining activist, murdered on 20 December 2009]

The death threats began days after the 
journalists of Radio Victoria gave coverage to 
the disappearance and death of Marcellus, who was 
a recognized leader in the fight against mining 
and played a leading role in the complaint 
against election fraud that led to the suspension 
of the municipal election in San Isidro, Cabañas, last January.

Attacks against Radio Victoria have been 
persistent, and have led to breaks in 
transmission when antenna cabling was destroyed. 
It has not been ruled out that this action is linked with the threats.

The threats to Radio Victoria have also attracted 
the attention of Amnesty International (AI), a 
global organization that works to ensure respect 
for human rights. At the time, Amnesty has 
demanded the Salvadoran authorities assure an 
independent investigation of the case.

The Union of Journalists and Allied Workers of El 
Salvador (SINPESS) condemned the threats and 
demanded that the authorities investigate these 
events, that have been repeated and that 
represent a threat to life and to the freedom of 
expression of this alternative media. The Union 
calls on other unions as well as domestic and 
foreign organizations to join their condemnation 
and, at the same time, laments all of the 
assassinations that have occured because of mining projects in this country.

In addition, the group Communicators Against 
Climate Change / El Salvador (C4/El Salvador) has 
called on all organizations representing civilian 
activity, to speak up and speak out against these 
crimes, both nationally and internationally.
///

There is an Amnesty call to action at this address:
http://njailegaction.blogspot.com/2010/01/ai-urgent-action-on-el-salvador.html

It recommends:

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:
- Urging the authorities to order a prompt, full 
and independent investigation into the threats 
against Radio Victoria staff, and the recent 
killing of Ramiro Rivera and Dora Alicia Recinos 
Sorto environmental activists in Cabañas 
department in 2009, and to bring those responsible to justice;
- Urging them to ensure that full protection is 
provided to all Radio Victoria staff, and to 
members of the Cabañas Environment Committee and 
their relatives who have received threats, in accordance with their own wishes.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 15 FEBRUARY 2010 TO:

President
Mauricio Funes
Casa Presidencial
Alameda Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo, No. 5500
San Salvador
EL SALVADOR
Fax: +503 22 43 99 47
Salutation: Dear President / Estimado Sr. Presidente

Attorney General
Fiscal General
Fiscalía General de la República
Final 4ª Calle Oriente y 19ª Avenida Sur, Residencial Primavera,
Santa Tecla, La Libertad, San Salvador, Salvador
Fax : +503 2523-7402
Salutation: Dear Attorney General / Estimado Sr. Fiscal General

And copies to:
Human Rights Organization
La Fundación de Estudios para la Aplicación de Derecho
25 Calle Poniente No. 1332,
Col Layco
San Salvador, El Salvador
Fax: +503 2236 1833

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives 
accredited to your country. Please check with 
your section office if sending appeals after the 
above date. This is the first update of UA 
223/09. Further information: www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR29/001/2009/en

At 09:22 04/01/2010, Al Garthwaite wrote:
>Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
>Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
>         boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01CA8D1F.6BE2B662"
>
>Hello everyone
>
>Please see email below which I have just 
>received. Any advice to Kate (email address 
>below) - and indeed to all of us - on what 
>action to take, and spreading the word, would be much appreciated.
>
>Does anyone else know more about this? AMARC?
>
>All best wishes
>
>Al
>
>Director
>South Leeds Community Radio
>Hillside
>Beeston Road
>Leeds LS11 8ND
>+44 (0) 113 387 6468 / 07957 152107
>al at southleedscommunityradio.org.uk
>www.southleedscommunityradio.org.uk
>
>South Leeds Community Radio is a company limited 
>by guarantee with charitable aims, no: 06884452
>
>Listen to our broadcast streaming over the 
>internet on www.southleedscommunityradio.org.uk
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>From: kate wrigley [mailto:wrigleykate at hotmail.com]
>Sent: 27 December 2009 02:32
>To: al at vera-media.co.uk
>Subject: community radio workers threatened and killed
>
>Dear Al,
>I have received awful news from people I have 
>been in contact with in El Salvador, and need to 
>work out how to get the message out to as many 
>community media people as possible.  The 
>community radio station is Radio Victoria, in 
>Cabañas, El Salvador, which has been doing some 
>really wonderful community journalism.  The 
>community, and the radio station, has been 
>fighting a mining bid by a Canadian company, due 
>to its environmental and social impact.  Those 
>opposing the mine have faced violence and 
>threats for their work, particularly local 
>environmental groups and radio journalists.  In 
>June, one member of the community was tortured 
>and murdered, and another was almost dragged 
>away from a radio interview by armed men.  Since 
>then, things had seemed to settle a bit, but 
>last week I heard that another community 
>activist had been murdered, and journalists had 
>recieved some very clear threats.  Then tonight, 
>I received another e-mail from them, that 
>another community leader had been shot dead, and 
>her 2 year old son wounded in the 
>attack.  Things are moving so fast, and the 
>local police and procurator fiscal have so far 
>failed to act to protect people, or properly 
>investigate the murders, calling them 'common delinquency'.
>I have sent an e-mail to amnesty, and the 
>procurator fiscal, but am trying to work out how 
>else to get the word out.  I will send you the 
>full details tomorrow, as I need to put 
>everything together into one e-mail in English, 
>and would really appreciate any ideas you 
>have.  It would be great if you could try to 
>spread the word, and put me in contact with 
>anyone else who might be able to do the same.
>Thank you Al,
>Kate
>
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