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june 27, 2011
Their Excellencies
President Juan Manuel Santos, of Colombia
President Fernando Lugo, of Paraguay
Several journalists have been murdered in the Americas over the years without any progress being made so far in the investigations to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. That impunity which is being maintained to date is worsened by the fact that the cases will become subject to statutes of limitations and so the case files will be shelved and forgotten.
Paraguayan journalist Santiago Leguizamón was killed in his country 20 years ago. In Colombia another six journalists were also murdered two decades ago. And the guilty remain free.
The IAPA and the community ask you and the legislators in your country to amend the law, extending the time limits or making crimes against journalists not subject to any statute of limitations, thus preventing the guilty from going unpunished and therefore protecting freedom of expression.
We trust that the commitment of the nation’s leading authorities to freedom of the press and against impunity in crimes against journalists can be put into effect through this proposal.
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