IFJ Welcomes Arrest in Venezuela in Case of Murdered Journalist

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today welcomed police action which has seen the arrest of a suspect in the investigation into the killing of Venezuelan journalist Orel Sambrano, who was killed on 16 January 2009 after been shot at close range in the central city of Valencia.

The arrest came after a huge police operation against drug traffickers in the city of Morón, in central  Venezuela on Sunday.

"This is a sign that the authorities are moving to confront impunity in the killing of journalists," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "It is long overdue but we welcome this as a positive step to bring justice to those in journalism who are the victims of violence."

The IFJ says that the assassination of  Sambrano, Director of weekly magazine ABC and an influential person working on other media, including Radio America, followed his action in exposing Walid Makle, businessman and publisher of the newspaper El Periódico, who is currently behind bars. It is reported widely that Makle may have ordered the killing from his prison cell. The man who is accused of the murder is David Antonio Yáñez Inciarte, aged 37.

"Many journalists pay with their lives for exposing the evils of drug trafficking," said Gregorio Salazar, Director of IFJ office in Caracas.  "Journalists and their unions will continue to demand an end to impunity and for safe and secure conditions in which to do their work." 

In another case concerning Venezuelan journalist Mauro Marcano, who was also killed by a gang of drug traffickers, a man arrested for his murder was set free in circumstances that many observers say reflected the connections between the drugs cartel and high ranking military leaders.

Despite this, the IFJ regional office in Caracas says the detention of a suspect in the Sambrano case is a positive step to challenge impunity of those who are involved in the killings of journalists in Latin America.

"What is important now is for the due process of law to take its course," said White. "Journalists demand justice, nothing more and certainly no less."

For more information, please call the IFJ in Caracas  +58 212 793 19 96          

The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 125 countries