Massacre in Guyana; Paraguay Prison Riot Solved; Second Venezuelan Journalist Murdered this Month

By Jessalyn Mastrianni
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 

 

 

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Eight people were shot and killed and their bodies were set on fire in a small diamond mine. The assailants and the motive remain unknown, and police are only fairly certain the massacre occurred on Saturday.

 

The owner of the mine, George Arokium, discovered the destruction Saturday afternoon. His son and his brother were among the victims. Police continue to investigate and compare this massacre to the others earlier this year. Of course, the most wanted man in the country, Rondell Rawlins, has been mentioned in all the same articles but has not yet been connected to the massacre.

 

For more information, please see:

AP - 8 massacred at Guyana mine - 22 June 2008

Reuters - Eight Shot and Burned in Guyana Mine - 23 June 2008

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ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay - Prisoners at the Esperanza industrial prison rioted for four hours on Friday. The prisoners submitted a list of demands that included more conjugal visits and an end to the alleged abuse from prison guards.

 

Conjugal visits are visits allowed to family members that are private and extended. These usually occur with a legal spouse and are known to include sexual relations.

 

At the time of the riot, Esperanza prison allowed conjugal visits only during the day. Authorities have agreed to allow conjugal visits after working hours as well as promising to investigate accusations of abuse within the prison.

 

No deaths or injuries occurred as a result of the riot.

 

For more information, please see:

Sydney Morning Herald - Riot over sex in prisons - 22 June 2008

AP- Paraguay prison agrees to inmates' demand for more sex - 20 June 2008

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CARACAS, Venezuela - Javier Garcia, evening anchorman for Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) was killed this weekend. His body was found by his brother with multiple stab wounds to the abdomen and right leg. His brother found him in his own bed on Sunday, after he had been missing for two days.

 

The murder's surrounding circumstances are very unclear; prosecutors are investigating.

 

The doorman of Garcia's building stated that an unidentified man tried to leave the apartment with a suitcase on Saturday night. When security told the man he could not take the suitcase with him, he returned it and then left. Three packed bags were found near the front door of Garcia's apartment.

 

RCTV spokesperson has stated that it is too early to connect Garcia's death with his work in the media. However, this is the second journalist killed in Venezuela this month. The first was Pierre Fould Gerges, killed on June 2, 2008 by an unidentified gunman following numerous death threats of the Reporte Diario de la Economía, the paper of which he was vice president.

 

Violence against the press in Venezuela is rare (only four deaths since 1992), however the government has repressed the local press.

 

For more information, please see:

Committee to Protect Journalists - RCTC anchor found dead in Caracas - 16 June 2008

AP- Venezuelan prosecutor investigates killing of journalist - 17 June 2008

Xinhua - Venezuelan RCTV journalist stabbed to death - 17 June 2008