Guatemala

GUATEMALA Two journalists have been murdered. Jose Yantuche died April 14, two weeks after being beaten up by unidentified assailants. Julio Rene Lemus, a member of the National Press Circle, was shot and killed April 25. The murders remain unsolved. Yantuche and Lemus were not well known journalists; Lemus also helped out at a legal services organization. A conflict between the 400-member Guatemalan Journalists Association (APG) and the presidential press secretary erupted. The APG says the government has attempted to stifle criticism of official behavior by threatening journalists. The government has demanded that the APG provide proof of its accusations. April 10. Executives of the newspaper El Grafico said they had received death threats after publishing information about the still unsolved murder of journalist Jorge Carpio Nicolle. The Public Ministry asked the Supreme Court of Justice to name a judge "who would be courageous, fair and willing to face the challenges and risks this case carries." Two unidentified masked men broke into the home of El Grafico photographer Ervin SanJuan, 23, handcuffed him and his wife, and warned him to discontinue his work. April 11. The Association of Quetzalteque Press complained in a press release that the employees of the Western Regional Hospital have banned journalists from the institution. April 12. The congressional group of opposition party Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG) announced that the governing body of Congress, chaired by a government party member, had restricted access to information by congressmen and journalists by insisting that access to the official record of proceedings may be obtained only with the prior permission of the Congress president or vice president. April 24. First Instance Court Judge Carlos Villatoro Shunimann stepped down from the investigation into the murder of journalist and politician Jorge Carpio and his companaions. May 5. A homemade bomb exploded on the sidewalk outside the home of Carlos Orellana Chavez, director of Radio Victoria in Mazatenang city. May 12. Guerrillas reported that several combatants - whom they did not identify - had been killed while defending their radio station, La Voz Popular, in Tajumulco, San Marcos department. The Army has been active in the area for about nine years, but had never come close to the studios themselves because the surrounding area is mined. May 15. The dismissed chairman of the board of the newspaper Siglo Veintiuno, Jose Ruben Zamora said an attempt had been made on his life - a hand grenade had been placed under his car while he was dining at a restaurant. May 16. Zamora accused the government of staging the attempt on his life. The government denied the accusation. May 17. Deputy Interior Minister Mario Rene Cifuentes declared there was a plan by enemies of the government to silence the press, characterizing it as an atttack on democracy and its institutions. The Catholic Church said it feared possible attacks on the press by secret rightwing groups opposing the peace process in Guatemala. May 21. Several congreSSional reporters said former military chief Carlos López Girón, accused of being behind the murder of Jorge Carpio Nicolle, figures on a list of congressional advisors. A document made public by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) implicated the Guatemalan military in the murder or Refugio Villanueva, wife of journalist Byron Barrera, who survived the October 1990 attack on their automobile. May 24. A fragmentation grenade was found in the parking lot of the newspaper Prensa Libre. Firefighters said an anonymous caller had tipped them off. June 3. Attorney General Acisclo Valladares Molina reported local media had been subjected to threats and harassment by officials and others angered by reports of their wrongdoing. August 26. Human Rights Commissioner Jorge Mario Garcia Laguardia and Attorney General Hector Hugo Perez Aguilera announced jointly that journalists should not be forced to testify in court. They were commenting on the common practice of newsmen being issued subpoenas to appear in court.