Shooting at home of critical sports reporter in Guatemala

According to the Guatemalan journalists' union APG and the IFEX Freedom of Expression eXchange, Manuel Gilberto García has received threatening phone calls for the past five years. As a director of the two regional television and radio programmes on sport, "Escenario Deportivo" and "Impacto Deportivo", García has recently criticized the local Jutiapa soccer team while praising rivalling Guatemala City team.

APG believes that those responsible for the attack and the threats are connected to the Jutiapa team's managers and to local municipal government figures. APG considers the attack on the journalist's home to be not the result of common crime or the unsafe situation in the area, but rather an attack on freedom of thought.

Also the regional association of journalists, APJ, has described the attack as "a clear act of intimidation" aimed at "silencing him [García] for his sports journalism".

They demand that the authorities investigate the affair and capture the attackers and their masterminds. The Human Rights Prosecutor's Office has requested protection for the journalist.