UNESCO chief deplores shooting death of Colombian radio journalist

The chief of the United Nations agency that champions press freedom today condemned the brutal murder of a Colombian journalist late last month, stressing that free speech in the South American country is under attack.

José Everardo Aguilar (72), an outspoken critic of corruption in his work as a radio reporter, was gunned down in his home in the southwestern town of Patia on 24 April.

He had received repeated threats on his life for denouncing several cases of corruption, according to the Federation of Journalists from Latin America and the Caribbean (FEPALC) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), but he refused to be silenced.

“No democracy can allow guns to silence debate,” said UN Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura in condemning the killing of Mr. Everardo Aguilar.

“I am confident that the authorities will spare no effort in pursuing the perpetrators of this crime that affects Colombian society as a whole,” added Mr. Matsuura. “This is all the more urgent as increasing attacks on journalists threaten to jeopardize the fundamental human right of freedom of expression in Colombia.”

FEPALC have reported 40 attacks against Colombian journalists since the start of the year.