Radio journalist’s home fired upon in Cobán

31 July 2008

(CERIGUA/IFEX) - On the morning of 27 July 2008, unidentified individuals shot at the entrance to journalist Edin Rodelmiro Maaz Bol’s house in Cobán, Alta Verapaz. Cobán is located 15 kilometres north of the capital, Guatemala City.

According to information published in the daily “Prensa Libre”, several of Maaz Bol’s neighbours saw the assailants drive by in a vehicle while firing shots at the journalist’s house. Based on the bullet shells recovered at the scene, it has been determined that a 9 millimetre calibre weapon was used.

The 50-year-old journalist, who works as a news announcer and correspondent for Radio Punto radio station, as well as hosting a sports programme for a local radio station, said that he has not received any death threats and does not know why his home was attacked. However, he did note that the trial of the person accused in the assassination of his brother, Eduardo Heriberto Maaz Bol, is in its final stages.

Eduardo Heriberto Maaz Bol, who was also a correspondent for Radio Punto, was assassinated at the entrance to Cobán on 10 September 2006 by individuals driving a black vehicle with tinted windows. In addition to his work as a journalist, Eduardo Heriberto Maaz Bol was also a human rights defender and supervisor in the educational system.

Ileana Alamilla, the coordinator of CERIGUA’s Journalists’ Observatory, condemned the attack on Edin Rodelmiro Maaz Bol’s home and called on the authorities to investigate the incident and implement the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the journalist and his family.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:

• asking them to investigation the attack on Edin Rodelmiro Maaz Bol’s home
• calling on them to implement the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the journalist and his family

APPEALS TO:

Ruth del Valle Comisionada Presidencial de los Derechos Humanos

2a Avenida 10-50, zona 9 Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: +502 2334 0119

Sergio Morales Alvarado Procurador de los Derechos Humanos

12 Avenida 12-72, zona 1 Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: +502 2424 1717 E-mail: ososa pdh.org.gt

Mario Castañeda Fiscal Especial de Delitos contra Periodistas y Sindicalistas

Ministerio Público 7a Avenida 11-20 zona 1, segundo nivel Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: +502 2220 6873 E-mail: mcastaneda mp.lex.gob.gt

Anders Kompas Oficina del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas Sobre Derechos Humanos para Guatemala [Coordinator, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in Guatemala] 13 calle 3-40 zona 10, Edifico Atlantils, oficina 803 Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: +502 2382 3410 E-mail: anayansi.lopez undp.org

Francisco Jiménez Ministro de Gobernación

6a Avenida 4-64, zona 1 Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: +502 2362 0237 / 2339 4474 E-mail: ministro mingob.gob.gt

Isabel Mendoza Director de la Policía Nacional Civil [Director, National Police] Dirección General de la Policía Nacional Civil 6a Avenida 13-71 zona 1 Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: +502 2238 1474

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

For further information about the case of Eduardo Maaz Bol, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view...

For further information, contact Luis Ovalle, CERIGUA, 2a. Calle 1-42, Zona 1, Guatemala City, Guatemala, C.A., tel/fax: +502 2238 1456, 2221 2521, 2251 1289, 5978 1867, e-mail: lovalle cerigua.org, informacion cerigua.org, Internet: http://www.cerigua.org