Director-General condemns killing of U.S. cameraman Brad Will in Oaxaca (Mexico)
03-11-2006 (Paris)
The Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, today condemned the killing of Brad Will, a cameraman for the international agency Indymedia in a demonstration by teachers in Oaxaca (Mexico) on 27 October.
“I condemn the killing of Brad Will,” the Director-General said. “It is essential for democracy and rule of law that journalists are able to report freely on all types of events. I am very concerned about the violence that has been unleashed on journalists in Oaxaca, where press photographer Osvaldo Ramirez was also injured.
“Brad Will died on the line of duty and those responsible must be brought to justice to help ensure that his tragedy does not repeat itself,” Mr Matsuura concluded.
Brad Will, a 36-year-old U.S. citizen whose real name was Wheyler, died after he was shot in the chest during a police attack on a demonstration of teachers in Oaxaca. Osvaldo Ramirez, a photographer for the daily newspaper Milenio was shot in the leg during the same demonstration.
UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this the Organization is requested to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”
“Brad Will died on the line of duty and those responsible must be brought to justice to help ensure that his tragedy does not repeat itself,” Mr Matsuura concluded.
Brad Will, a 36-year-old U.S. citizen whose real name was Wheyler, died after he was shot in the chest during a police attack on a demonstration of teachers in Oaxaca. Osvaldo Ramirez, a photographer for the daily newspaper Milenio was shot in the leg during the same demonstration.
UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom. Article 1 of its Constitution requires the Organization to “further universal respect for justice, for the rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are affirmed for the peoples of the world, without distinction of race, sex, language or religion, by the Charter of the United Nations.” To realize this the Organization is requested to “collaborate in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication and to that end recommend such international agreements as may be necessary to promote the free flow of ideas by word and image…”
Related themes/countries
· Mexico
· United States of America: News Archives
· Freedom of Expression: News Archives 2006
· Press Freedom: News Archives 2006
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Contact information
- UNESCO Press Release No.2006-134
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