Young radio presenter murdered in Petén

Reporters Without Borders today voiced shock and dismay at the murder of Miguel Ángel Amaya Pérez, a young presenter on Sabana radio, who was found shot dead in Santa Elena, in the Petén department in the north of the country. Miguel Ángel Amaya Pérez, aged 23, had worked at the radio, regularly presenting the news, for two months when he was ambushed by armed men, after taking his wife on his motorbike to a village near Santa Elena on 9 December 2007. His body was found the following day. His family said they did not believe it was a robbery because nothing was stolen from him and his bike remained at the murder scene. The local press reported that the region is infested by drug-traffickers and other criminals. “We offer our condolences to the family of Miguel Ángel Amaya Pérez and we hope that the authorities will solve this distressing case as quickly as possible,” the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “The north of Guatemala is particularly affected by organised crime and drug-trafficking. The reasons for the murder are still to be determined but the professional link should not be ignored. The investigation should follow this lead,” it added.