Guatemala Human Rights Commission/USA

JOURNALIST EDWIN PAXTOR THREATENED

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
September 29, 2005

Journalist EDWIN PAXTOR has suffered intimidation and death threats. These have escalated since he reported the alleged assault of four youths by members of the Criminal Investigation Service of the National Civil Police, Servicio de Investigación Criminológica (SIC) de la Policía Nacional Civil (PNC) in July, in the Department of Chiquimula, Southeast Guatemala. He also alleges that members of the SIC have been obstructing his work for the last two years.

The most recent threat against him occurred at approximately 2.30am on 23 September when Edwin Paxtor received an anonymous telephone call, informing him that a murder had taken place and giving him directions to the alleged crime scene at an isolated location. He felt suspicious and asked a friend to check whether such a murder had occurred. None was found to have taken place.

On 16 September, Edwin Paxtor's daughters returned home to find a man standing by the house who made threatening gestures to them. The day before, on 15 September, his car was followed by a red Toyota Corola with tinted windows. On 12 September he had been followed by a black four-wheel drive.

At approximately 1pm on 11 September, Edwin Paxtor’s daughter answered his mobile phone. An unknown man asked her "are you the daughter or wife of that son of the great bitch", "es la hija o la esposa de ese hijo de la gran puta". Edwin took the phone from her and the man told him "your days are counted", "teneis los dias contados". When he asked why, he was told, "son of bitch your days are counted, we are going to kill you", "hijo de puta teneis los dias contados, te vamos a matar". The threats were reported to the Human Rights Ombudsman´s Office, Procuraduria de Derechos Humanos, who referred them to the local judge.

BACKGROUND
Edwin Paxtor hosts the news programme on Chiquimula´s local cable television, and is the regional correspondent for the national media outlets Prensa Libre, Noti7 and Radio Cadena Sonora. On 27 July, his report in the newspaper Prensa Libre described how plain clothed agents from the SIC had physically assaulted four youngsters. The SIC agents had accused them of driving a stolen vehicle, which in fact turned out to be registered to one of the young men.

On 11 July, Edwin Paxtor was one of the journalists assaulted with machetes by former members of the civil defense patrols (Patrullas de Autodefensa Civil PAC), while filming a demonstration in Chiquimula. The assault was condemned by Reporters Without Borders.

Edwin Paxtor has informally complained to the Departmental Governor of Chiquimula on several occasions about the alleged SIC harassment. On one occasion the Department Governor accompanied him to an assignment, so that he would not be prevented from taking photographs. The Governor has reportedly discussed the situation with members of the SIC, who have reportedly told him that Edwin Paxtor "…never has anything good to say about them", "a nosotros nunca nos tira una flor". At the beginning of September, Edwin Paxtor had an informal conversation about his situation with the Special Attorney for Crimes Against Journalists and Trade Unionists (Fiscal Especial de Delitos Contra Periodistas y Sindicalistas). The conversation was reportedly overheard by a member of the National Civil Police. Since then his work has reportedly been also obstructed by other members of the PNC other than SIC.

REQUESTED ACTION
-Request that Guatemalan authorities ensure the safety of Edwin Paxtor and his family.

-Urge the authorities to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation of the death threats and acts of intimidation directed at Edwin Paxtor and his family, and to prosecute those responsible.

-Urge the government to protect freedom of speech and freedom of the press in Guatemala.

SEND APPEALS TO:

Presidente de la República de Guatemala
Licenciado Óscar Berger Perdomo
Casa Presidencial, 6 a. Avenida, 4-18 zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala
Guatemala
Email: presidente@scspr.gob.gt
Salutation: Excelentísimo Sr. Presidente/Dear President
Fax: 502 2251 2218

Attorney General
Juan Luis Florido
Fiscal General Fiscalia General del Ministerio Publico
8a. Avenida 10-67, Zona 1
Ciudad Guatemala
Guatemala
Fax: 011 502 251 2218
Salutation: Estimado Fiscal General/Dear Sir

Minister of the Interior
Ministro de Gobernacion
Carlos Vielmann
6a.Avenida 4-64, zona 4, nivel 3
Ciudad de Guatemala
Guatemala
Fax: 011 502 2362 0237
Email: ministro@mingob.gob.gt
Salutation: Senor Ministro/ Dear Minister

COPIES TO:
Ambassador Jose Guillermo Castillo
Embassy of Guatemala
2220 R St. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1 202 745 1908
email: ambassador@guatemala-embassy.org

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.

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