The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the killing of Guatemalan journalist Carlos Humberto Cal Ical and calls on authorities to swiftly and transparently investigate his murder and hold the perpetrators accountable.
Cal Ical, a veteran journalist who local outlets Radio Tezulutlan, Stereo Gerardi, Al D铆a, and Noticias La Esfinge Cob谩n, on April 26 near his home in San Crist贸bal Verapaz by a group of unknown gunmen. According to media reports, he was shot .
The day after Cal Ical鈥檚 murder, a spokesperson for Guatemalan President Bernardo Ar茅valo the killing.
In a statement released after the killing, the Association of Journalists and Social Communicators of Alta Verapaz, of which Cal Ical was a member, warned the killing was not an isolated incident, but rather of 鈥渟ystematic persecution鈥� against Guatemala鈥檚 independent journalists. The Association of Journalists of Guatemala an attack on 鈥渢he public鈥檚 right to be informed,鈥� noting its occurrence only days before World Press Freedom Day on May 3.聽
The Guatemalan department of Alta Verapaz, where Cal Ical was killed, is to be one of the most dangerous regions in the country for journalists. Despite the Guatemalan government鈥檚 2023 commitment to a national journalist protection programme, many community journalists in the region regularly face due to reporting on social and territorial conflicts and local government.聽聽聽
鈥淲e call on authorities to open a swift and transparent investigation into the murder of Carlos Humberto Cal Ical, including any possible links to his journalistic work. There must be consequences for those who commit crimes against the press,鈥� said IPI Director of Advocacy Amy Brouillette. 鈥淚PI also urges President Ar茅valo to take concrete steps to protect all journalists, and especially those reporting on sensitive social and political issues, in order to prevent future crimes against the press.鈥�