Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

Ex PAC Members Attack Journalists

July 12, 2005

Angry former members of the Civil Self Defense Patrols (ex PAC), who blocked the San José bridge in Chiquimula on July 11, attacked five journalists and numerous drivers and neighbors with machetes. They also destroyed the equipment and vehicles of reporters Denys Roldán, Edwin Paxtor, and Benjamín Martínez from Prensa Libre, and Rolando Hernández Castellón and Arnulfo Ortiz from Radio Chiquimula. Martínez sought refuge with a nearby National Civil Police (PNC) patrol, but the two PNC officers did not assist him and instead left the area. The ex PAC members were requesting the resignation of the departmental governor, Boris Roberto España, who, along with other employees, remains in the departmental government building.

Ileana Alamilla, president of the Association of Journalists of Guatemala (APG), condemned any type of attack on journalists. The situation for journalists in Guatemala is becoming more dangerous and will continue to worsen unless the government does something to protect the lives of journalists, Alamilla said.

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