Costa Rica

New York, March 28, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for a prompt and thorough investigation into two gunfire attacks this month against the facilities of the daily newspaper La Nación in Costa Rica's capital, San José.

Three unidentified assailants fired several shots at the newspaper building from a moving vehicle about 4 a.m. on March 23, La Nación reported. No one was injured in the attack, which caused slight damage to the building. Based on interviews with security guards and the discovery of five bullet casings, police suspect a 38-caliber handgun was used, according to La Nación.

Overview
by Carlos Lauría

Journalists throughout the Americas came under increased attack in 2004 for reporting on political corruption, drug trafficking, and organized crime. Although democratic rights have been expanding in the region, press freedom has not always improved as a result.

Costa Rica

The nine-year legal battle of Mauricio Herrera Ulloa, a reporter with the San José–based daily La Nación (The Nation), ended on August 3, when the Inter-American Court of Human Rights announced a ruling overturning his 1999 conviction on criminal defamation charges. The Costa Rica–based court also ruled that the sentence harmed the reporter's professional and personal life and violated his right to freedom of expression. The Inter-American Court ordered Costa Rica to void Herrera Ulloa's conviction and pay the reporter US$20,000 in damages and US$10,000 in legal fees.

MARCH 8 and MARCH 23, 2005
Posted: March 28, 2005

La Nación
ATTACKED

Two gunfire attacks were reported in March 2005 against the facilities of the daily newspaper La Nación in Costa Rica's capital, San José.