This post is a summary of two reports with the same issue. 1) "In ten years, 2012 already is the most violent year for journalists." Published on June,1st,2012, at Estadao.com.br 2) "Journalist and girlfriend are killed." Published on February,9th,2012, at Extra.globo.com (translation by me).
In just five months, 2012 already is the most violent year for journalists in a decade, according to Interamerican Society of Press, four journalists were killed in the country in crimes related to their profession.
" This is a threat to the freedom of speech." Said Marcelo Moreira, head of Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism. " When a journalist shut up, who suffer is the society." He adds. The violence in the country, has distinct natures but, he highlighted that there is a less visible threat: political crimes. The four journalists killed this year were victims from this kind of crime.
According to the International Institute of Security of News, put in 2012 Brazil as the third worst country for journalists. Press organizations protested about more security and heard from government the promise to creation of an observatory of violence against journalists, and the press organizations also ask for the federalization of these crimes, with investigation by the federal police.
The journalist and blogger Mario Randolpho Lopes, 50 years-old was found killed together with his girlfriend in Barra do Piraí - RJ. He was the owner of an online newspaper called " Vassouras na Net."
The president of the National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) Celso Schroder said, " It`s a repugnant, hideous crime, not only because killed a person, but also because this is an offense to journalism, fundamental activity for democracy".
Randolpho is the fourth journalist killed in the Rio de Janeiro State in less than two years. Last year were killed the journalist and owner of the newspaper "Panorama Geral" in Angra dos Reis, the president of the newspaper "Entre Rios" in Três Rios, and another was found killed strangled in Barra de Sao Joao in the north of the state.
