Brazil-Paraguay border reported at least 10 journalist deaths in a decade

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – “Someone hired me to kill you tied up,” read a message received by a Paraguayan radio broadcaster, based in Pedro Juan Caballero (Paraguay), on the border with Brazil. “You’re going to solve it or it’s late for you, ok?”

The WhatsApp message written in Portuguese proposed that the journalist “solve the problem,” indicating that an alleged hitman would like to be paid not to kill him.

The case, under investigation by the Paraguayan police, is part of the daily routine of journalists in the region, currently under the spotlight due to a wave of violence.

At least 10 media professionals have been murdered in the regions near the border between the two countries. The killings are largely related to the actions of organized crime.

The region is dominated by Brazilian factions, with the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) being the most active. However, often these crimes are committed in retaliation for political differences, with no connection to criminal organizations.

The most recent case was that of Brazilian Léo Veras, of the Porã News website, killed with 12 gunshots last year in his home while having dinner with his family in Pedro Juan Caballero.

In addition to Veras, Paulo Rocaro was another Brazilian journalist killed in 2012 in a crime allegedly motivated by a political dispute in the region.

The other 8 journalists killed are Paraguayan. In that country, many media professionals travel with a police escort, some even armed.

However, in the case of attacks, few escape the hitmen, who often use large-caliber rifles.

In 2015, radio broadcaster Gerardo Seferino Servian Coronel, 45, was murdered in Ponta Porã. Coronel was riding a motorcycle when he was intercepted by two gunmen on another motorcycle. Six shots were fired at the victim.

In the case of Leo Veras, it is suspected that he had angered the organized criminals operating in the region.

So far, Waldemar Pereira Rivas, aka “Cachorrão”, has been denounced for the crime, according to information released by ABRAJI (Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism).

One of the lines of investigation points out that Veras would have been killed after a rumor that he tipped off the police about the false identity of a man allegedly linked to the PCC, arrested in a traffic altercation. Angered by this report, the man ordered his death.

The man who the police suspect of being the ringleader is Ederson Salinas Benítez, aka Salinas Ryguasu, who remains at large.

Veras had been threatened in 2013 after reporting on the death of another journalist, Paraguayan Carlos Artaza, in Pedro Juan Caballero. In an interview for a documentary produced for ABRAJI’s Tim Lopes program, he said he was concerned that he might be killed.

The journalist spent some years under police escort, but later dispensed with the security provided by the state.

According to local journalists, although the state provides this type of security, it is very expensive to keep the escort for a long time, as it involves several additional expenses – it is up to the journalist to provide food for the agents, for instance.

In 2020, the Tim Lopes program interviewed Paraguayan journalist Candido Figueredo, who has been using security for 25 years – he also said he carries a gun. “I am aware that they can kill me anytime they want,” he said during the documentary.

In Pedro Juan Caballero, Journalist Square was named after investigative journalist Santiago Leguizamón, shot 21 times in 1991.

“The problem on the border has always been there, it will always be there, because we cover serious events, drug dealers, that kind of thing. But in general we live with it and go unnoticed,” says Firmino Benítez, from the journalists’ union of the Amambay department.

Nevertheless, he believes that the problems journalists face are still “minimal” at the moment. Benítez says that threats are often extortion attempts, coming from criminals inside prisons. In addition, journalists are allegedly involved in the crimes.

On the other side of the border, João Carlos Torraco of the Union of Professional Journalists in the Greater Dourados region, says that the situation is somewhat calmer.

Nevertheless, he says that journalists in the region are constantly walking on eggshells. Be it due to threats of attacks by politicians or being cautious when mentioning any name that may be related to organized crime.