Bryan Leonel Guerra Chegüén

Bryan Guerra (25) was a Guatemalan journalist and human rights defender. He was the vice-president of the Social Communicators Network of Chiquimula, and worked on a cable channel in Chiquimula as a sport news presenter. He also reported on local municipal issues which would have exposed the local officials.

Bryan dies on 03 March 2020, five days after being shot in a targetted attack. The attack took place on 27 February 2020, when Bryan was shot by an unknown assailant in a car while he was riding his motorcycle. According to reports, prior to his death Bryan had reported receiving threats, but as indicated by APG (Association of Journalists, Guatemala) the country’s authorities did nothing. The threats were initiated without any apparent explanation, although the Chiquimulan organization Centinelas has indicated that it is likely that Bryan was working on a sensitive theme which he had not disclosed.

The APG sent a statement demanding the authorities, Prosecutors of the Crimes Against the Journalist the investigation of the crime. The Special Office for the freedom of expression of the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights has requested the Guatemalan State to immediately and with all the guarantees to investigate this crime. The same Office has insisted to untangle the motives of this crime and to determined the possible relation with the journalist activity and the freedom of expression. Guatemala has been suffering a series of violent and repressive episodes, specially in Chiquimula, where journalist has difficult in caring out their work.


If you would like to provide a personal recollection, please email us at: HRDMemorial@frontlinedefenders.org

Region:Americas

Country:Guatemala

Department/Province/State:Chiquimula

Nickname:Bryan Guerra

Sex1:Male

Age:25

Date of Killing:03/03/2020

Previous Threats:Yes

Type of Work:Journalist/communicator

Organisation:TLCOM, Red de Comunitdores Sociales de Chiquimula

Sector or Type of Rights the HRD Worked On:Civil and Political Rights, ESC Rights

Sector Detail:Abuse of power/corruption, Citizens' rights

More information:Front Line Defenders

1This database records an individual's chosen gender identity. If they do not self-identify as male or female they can use the option of recording other/neither or use the term NBGI (non binary gender identity).

URLs (links) of Interest
Bibliografía, Nómada, “Resumen del día: El primer desplante de Giammattei a la CC y el repudio al crimen contra periodista en Chiquimula”, Nómada, 4 de marzo de 2020.
https://nomada.gt/pais/actualidad/resumen-del-dia-el-primer-desplante-de-giammattei-a-la-cc-y-el-repudio-al-crimen-contra-periodista-en-chiquimula/
Bibliografía, DW, “Guatemala: muere periodista baleado en el este del país”, Deutsche Welle, 4 de marzo de 2020.
https://www.dw.com/es/guatemala-muere-periodista-baleado-en-el-este-del-pa%C3%ADs/a-52630367
Bibliografía, Prensa Libre, “Sectores condenan muerte del periodista Bryan Leonel Guerra, víctima de un ataque armado”, Prensa Libre, 4 de marzo de 2020.
https://www.prensalibre.com/ciudades/guatemala-ciudades/sectores-condenan-muerte-del-periodista-bryan-leonel-guerra-victima-de-un-ataque-armado/
Fotografía obtenida en International Federation of Journalists
https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/category/insurance-for-journalists/article/guatemala-muere-el-periodista-bryan-guerra-baleado-en-chiquimula.html
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