Byron Barrera
Encyclopedia
Byron Barrera Ortiz is a Guatemala
n journalist noted for his reporting of human rights abuses by the Guatemalan government during and after the Guatemalan Civil War
, for which he received repeated threats against his life. In 1990, his wife, Refugio Araceli Villanueva de Barrera, was murdered in an attack on their car. Members of the Guatemalan military
have been implicated in the crime.
's Guatemalan Christian Democracy
party. He then became as director of the Agencia Centroamericana de Noticias (Central American News Agency), and vice-president of the Guatemalan Journalists Association. He also served as the founder and editor of a weekly news magazine, La Epoca, which one of its reporters described as being devoted to "muckraking pieces on corruption in government and private enterprise, no-holds-barred political analysis, and social investigation on topics like poverty and the environment". The magazine only lasted for five months from its inception in January 1988 until its buildings were firebombed. The firebombing was believed to be carried out by members of state security forces, and Barrera subsequently left the country for several months after threats against himself and his family.
The following day, Barrera was driving with his wife, Refugio Araceli Villanueva de Barrera, and an unidentified friend when they stopped at a traffic light at the corner of the 35th street and the Calzada Aguilar Batres in Zone 11 of Guatemala City. A motorcycle pulled alongside Barrera's car and the riders opened fire with an automatic weapon or weapons. Refugio Villanueva de Barrera was killed instantly, while Byron Barrera and their friend were injured and hospitalized. Barrera later attributed his survival to a bulletproof vest he had recently begun to wear. After recovering from his injuries, Barrera took his two children into exile in Costa Rica
. "I have had to explain the truth to my children", he stated in a November open letter. "The people of their country who are conspicuous for their ideas of freedom are assassinated."
of involvement in the killings. Journalists who reported on his accusation reportedly received anonymous threats. The investigating prosecutors and Barrera's lawyers were likewise threatened, causing the latter to withdraw from the case. Amnesty International
subsequently issued an appeal to the Guatemalan government, expressing concern that the murderers appeared to be members of state security forces and urging that both they and those responsible for the subsequent threats be brought to justice. A document released by the US Central Intelligence Agency
in 1995 also implicated the Guatemalan military in the attacks.
of the Committee to Protect Journalists
.
Barrera was threatened again for his journalism in 1993, when his name was circulated in an anonymous leaflet threatening him and 23 other journalists with death; Amnesty International again issued an alert on his behalf. Barrera's brother Adolfo is also a journalist and was abducted in 1994; he managed to escape and subsequently fled the country.
Barrera was allegedly assaulted in Guatemala City
in 2008 by members of the Secretariat for Administrative and Security Matters (Secretaría de Asuntos Administrativos y de Seguridad) following an attempt to photograph a new vehicle of Vice President Rafael Espada
, prompting IFEX
to issue a protest on his behalf.
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n journalist noted for his reporting of human rights abuses by the Guatemalan government during and after the Guatemalan Civil War
Guatemalan Civil War
The Guatemalan Civil War ran from 1960-1996. The thirty-six-year civil war began as a grassroots, popular response to the rightist and military usurpation of civil government , and the President's disrespect for the human and civil rights of the majority of the population...
, for which he received repeated threats against his life. In 1990, his wife, Refugio Araceli Villanueva de Barrera, was murdered in an attack on their car. Members of the Guatemalan military
Military of Guatemala
The Military of Guatemala consists of National Army of Guatemala , the Guatemalan Navy and the Guatemalan Air Force ....
have been implicated in the crime.
Early career
Guatemalan by birth, Barrera was forced to flee the country after reporting in 1980 that the Guatemalan military was massacring Indian peasants in Quiché Department. He spent the years from 1980 to 1986 in exile, returning to Guatemala following the victory of Vinicio CerezoVinicio Cerezo
Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo is a Guatemalan politician. He served as President of Guatemala from 14 January 1986 to 14 January 1991 and currently sits in Congress.-Career:...
's Guatemalan Christian Democracy
Guatemalan Christian Democracy
The Guatemalan Christian Democracy , founded 24 August 1955, was a political party in Guatemala. It was a moderate reformist party, although also anti-Communist. It first won congressional seats in [Guatemalan parliamentary election, 1955|1955]]. In 1957, it contested presidential elections but...
party. He then became as director of the Agencia Centroamericana de Noticias (Central American News Agency), and vice-president of the Guatemalan Journalists Association. He also served as the founder and editor of a weekly news magazine, La Epoca, which one of its reporters described as being devoted to "muckraking pieces on corruption in government and private enterprise, no-holds-barred political analysis, and social investigation on topics like poverty and the environment". The magazine only lasted for five months from its inception in January 1988 until its buildings were firebombed. The firebombing was believed to be carried out by members of state security forces, and Barrera subsequently left the country for several months after threats against himself and his family.
1990 assassination attempt
On 25 October 1990, Barrera became aware that he was being shadowed by two men on a motorcycle. He reportedly informed President Cerezo's head of security of the tail, and gave officials the license plate number of the motorcycle.The following day, Barrera was driving with his wife, Refugio Araceli Villanueva de Barrera, and an unidentified friend when they stopped at a traffic light at the corner of the 35th street and the Calzada Aguilar Batres in Zone 11 of Guatemala City. A motorcycle pulled alongside Barrera's car and the riders opened fire with an automatic weapon or weapons. Refugio Villanueva de Barrera was killed instantly, while Byron Barrera and their friend were injured and hospitalized. Barrera later attributed his survival to a bulletproof vest he had recently begun to wear. After recovering from his injuries, Barrera took his two children into exile in Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
. "I have had to explain the truth to my children", he stated in a November open letter. "The people of their country who are conspicuous for their ideas of freedom are assassinated."
Investigation
In August 1991, Barrera returned to Guatemala to present evidence in the case. While there, he gave a press conference accusing Guatemala's armed forcesMilitary of Guatemala
The Military of Guatemala consists of National Army of Guatemala , the Guatemalan Navy and the Guatemalan Air Force ....
of involvement in the killings. Journalists who reported on his accusation reportedly received anonymous threats. The investigating prosecutors and Barrera's lawyers were likewise threatened, causing the latter to withdraw from the case. Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
subsequently issued an appeal to the Guatemalan government, expressing concern that the murderers appeared to be members of state security forces and urging that both they and those responsible for the subsequent threats be brought to justice. A document released by the US Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
in 1995 also implicated the Guatemalan military in the attacks.
Later career
In 1991, the year after the attack, Barrera won the International Press Freedom AwardCPJ International Press Freedom Awards
The CPJ International Press Freedom Awards honour journalists around the world who show courage in defending press freedom in the face of attacks, threats or imprisonment. Created in 1991, the awards are administered by the Committee to Protect Journalists....
of the Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
.
Barrera was threatened again for his journalism in 1993, when his name was circulated in an anonymous leaflet threatening him and 23 other journalists with death; Amnesty International again issued an alert on his behalf. Barrera's brother Adolfo is also a journalist and was abducted in 1994; he managed to escape and subsequently fled the country.
Barrera was allegedly assaulted in Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
in 2008 by members of the Secretariat for Administrative and Security Matters (Secretaría de Asuntos Administrativos y de Seguridad) following an attempt to photograph a new vehicle of Vice President Rafael Espada
Rafael Espada
Dr. José Rafael Espada is the Vice President of Guatemala and a former cardiothoracic surgeon.Espada is well known in the Houston cardiothoracic surgery community. He grew up in Guatemala. From an early age he wanted to grow up to be a doctor...
, prompting IFEX
IFEX
IFEX may refer to:*Impulse Fire Extinguishing System*International Freedom of Expression Exchange*Ifosfamide, drug marketed as Mitoxana or Ifex*International Food Exhibition*International Film Exchange, a film distribution company...
to issue a protest on his behalf.