Radio Victoria is denouncing another death threat, received on January 11, 2011. The letter was pushed under their door sometime during the night, despite the presence of supposed 24 hour police protection. This is the first threat following over a year of silence.
They reported the threat to the police and attorney general’s office and were advised to give these institutions a chance to investigate. Since then, Radio Victoria has only received one phone call from the Criminal Investigations Division (DIC). No other evidence has been collected or pursued.
Over the past year and a half, we have posted numerous stories about Radio Victoria, a community-based radio station in Cabañas. Between 2006 and 2009, Radio Victoria’s staff received a terrorizing series of threats and attacks for their reporting on issues such as Pacific Rim’s efforts to mine gold in Cabañas; allegations of electoral fraud during the 2006 and 2009 municipal elections; and other controversial issues. In July 2009, the Radio was vandalized and much of its equipment destroyed, temporarily knocking them off air.
Yesterday’s threat follows a wave of political violence in the region that claimed the lives of two youth and sent another person into hiding (see our post on January 4). These threats are very real and civil society remains very much under attack in Cabañas. Even though Pacific Rim’s efforts to mine gold in the region have not advanced, civil society organizations are still very much in need of the support and solidarity of the international community.
Voices on the Border 