UNESCO chief condemns murder of Dominican Republic journalist

Continuing its campaign to defend press freedom in the face of political or criminal attacks, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today condemned the murder of yet another journalist, a reporter from the Dominican Republic gunned down just after completing a broadcast on a provincial crime wave.

Juan Andújar, a correspondent with the Santo Domingo-based daily Listín Diario, was shot dead after a radio broadcast on a crime wave that has shaken the southern town of Azua.

“By taking a stand against the gangs waging terror, Juan Andújar was carrying out his duty as a journalist and a citizen,” UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said. “Juan Andújar breached the silence, and we in turn must speak out. His killers must not benefit from our silence.

“A journalist did not want criminal acts to go unpunished and we must not allow the worst of crimes – the murder of this journalist – to go unpunished,” he added, calling for everything possible to be done to bring those responsible to justice.

Mr. Matsuura’s condemnation was just the latest of many he has issued so far this year on the murder of journalists around the world.