Overview
In 1991, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) officially recorded 84 journalists killed worldwide as a result of their professional activities. While 95 media workers died violent deaths, only those whose deaths were directly linked to journalistic work were included in the IFJ’s tally.
The IFJ counts journalists killed while on reporting assignments or murdered under circumstances directly linked to their journalistic activity. In some instances, media workers were included if they were performing work essential to news production.
Country-wise Report
Algeria
Philip Shehadi – Reuters news agency correspondent (28/02/91)
Stabbed to death in his Algiers apartment. Shehadi, a U.S. citizen, had worked for Reuters since 1984. Believed to be a robbery; not counted in official tally.
Brazil
Ivan Rocha Dos Santos – Radio Alvorado (April–May 1991)
Radio journalist reporting on local death squads. Found mutilated after going missing. Union attributes death to local death squads.
Canada
Prithyi Vij – City-TV Toronto (31/05/91)
Broadcaster shot outside CHIN Radio studio. Last broadcast was a tribute to former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi.
Colombia
Diana Turbay – Hoy por Hoy (25/01/91)
Editor held hostage by Medellin Cartel, killed during police rescue attempt. Daughter of a former Colombian president.Antonio Ortiz – La Opinion de Cúcuta (23/04/91)
Journalist killed in Cúcuta, near Colombia-Venezuela border.Julio Daniel Chaparro Hurtado – El Espectador (24/04/91)
Killed while reporting on violence in Segovia, Antioquia.Jorge Enrique Torres Navas – El Espectador (24/04/91)
Photographer murdered with Hurtado in Segovia.Jose Libardo Mendez – The Voice of the Jungle (21/05/91)
Shot while driving to work; investigated corruption.Carlos Rodriguez – The Voice of the Jungle (21/05/91)
Shot alongside Mendez; survived prior assassination attempt.Arcenio Hoyos Lozano – La Voz del Ariari Radio (13/09/91)
News director shot by two unidentified gunmen in Granada.Julio Serrato (13/09/91)
Journalist and communications professor; died from wounds after attack.Henry Rojas Morijes – El Tiempo (30/12/91)
Shot dead in Bogota.
(Several deaths in Colombia were not counted due to insufficient confirmation of motive, including Rafael Solano and Antonio Rios.)
Ethiopia
John Mathai – BBC and Visnews (04/06/91)
Soundman killed in ammunition depot explosion in Addis Ababa, which killed at least 100 people.
Guatemala
Anson Ng Yonf – Financial Times (29/07/91)
Reporter bludgeoned to death; death possibly linked to professional work.
Haiti
Jacques Gary Simeon – Radio Caribes (30/09/91)
Killed during coup d’état.Montlouis Lherisse – THN (23–25/12/91)
Cameraman disappeared after a TV station party; identified dead at morgue.
India
Mohammad Shabhah Vakil – Al-Safa News (23/04/91)
Editor killed by gunmen; criticized both militants and authorities in Kashmir.Amarnath Verma – Hind Samachar (February 1991)
Shot in Amritsar; motive unclear.Jaspal Singh – Ajit (October 1991)
Correspondent killed in Punjab.
Indonesia / East Timor
Kamal Bana Dhal / Kamal Bamadhaj (13/11/91)
Photojournalist injured during Dili massacre; died in hospital.
Iraq
Gad Gross – Newsweek (29/03/91)
Photographer shot during Iraqi offensive against Kurds in Kirkuk.Nick Della Casa, Charles Maxwell, Rosanna Della Casa – freelance television crew (March–April 1991)
Killed or presumed dead in Northern Iraq; investigation inconclusive.
Israel / Occupied Territories
Omar Shahine – Israeli Radio
Killed in Eastern Jerusalem.
Japan
Tadaomi Tsuchiya, Noriaki Sakamoto, Koji Nakazoni, et al. (03/06/91)
15 journalists and 2 media-contracted drivers killed in Mount Unzen volcanic eruption.Makio Yauchi (25/06/91)
Died from lung damage while covering Mount Unzen eruption.
Kuwait
David Thomas – Financial Times (24/04/91)
Car engulfed in flames in Burgan oilfields while reporting reconstruction.Alan Harper – Financial Times (24/04/91)
Staff photographer killed alongside David Thomas.
Latvia
Jurij Botnik – Cameraman (20–21/01/91)
Killed by Soviet troops during Riga crackdown.Andris Slapins – Latvian Documentary Film (20–21/01/91)
Member of documentary crew killed in Riga.Gvido Zvaigzne – Latvian Documentary Film (05/02/91)
Died from wounds sustained in Riga crackdown.
Mexico
Carlos Alberto Medina – Excélsior
Killed at home.Victor Manuel Oropeza – Diario de Juarez (03/07/91)
Stabbed to death in Chihuahua; had received threats for critical column.
Myanmar
Ne Win – Asahi Shimbun (17/01/91)
Correspondent died in detention; claimed to be from cirrhosis.
Paraguay
Santiago Leguizamon – Radio Mburuya / Ultima Hora / Diario Noticias (26/04/91)
Shot dead while investigating corruption and contraband.
Peru
Arsenio Palacio – freelance (March 1991)
Suspected killed due to investigation of drug trafficking.Luis Antonio Morales Otega – Journalism professor (13/07/91)
Gunned down by military-affiliated men; had received death threats.Gustavo Zuniga Ucharico – Reportaje a la Noticias (30/08/91)
Radio journalist killed; Sendero Luminoso suspected.Melissa Alfaro – Cambio (10/10/91)
Killed by letter-bomb; believed linked to paramilitary group.Antonio Huaccachi Chavez – Ayacucho (16/10/91)
Killed by unknown gunmen.Jose Angel de Guillen Chacon – San Roman de Juliaca radio (17/10/91)
Director and journalist killed in Juliaca.Cirilio Ore Enriquez – Expreso (27/10/91)
Union leader and correspondent; killed by Sendero Luminoso.
Philippines
Nesino Paulin Toling – Panguil Bay Monitor (14/04/91)
Shot in Ozamis; critical of local government and drug activity.Candido Basilisco – Philippine Puncher (08/05/91)
Chief editor killed in Cebu city.Nick T. Enciso – Freelance (26/05/91)
Veteran journalist killed at home; motive unclear; not counted.
South Africa
Aziz Tassiém – Visnews (04/08/91)
Killed in car accident while reporting on Greek cruise ship sinking.
Soviet Union
Salatyna Askerova – Nagorno-Karabakh (09/01/91)
Journalist killed at 29 years old; reportedly by Armenian terrorists.Ivan Fomin – Znamja (11/01/91)
Editor-in-chief shot for political reasons; colleague injured.
Thailand
Vitton Kavayapanik – Thai Rath (16/05/91)
Editor-in-chief murdered on the street in Bangkok.
United States
Jean-Claude Olivier – Radyo Pep la (18/02/91)
Haitian radio journalist murdered in Miami, possibly due to political opinions.Fritz Dor – Veye Yo / Radyo Tet Ansanm (15/03/91)
Shot outside office; had received death threats.Joseph Casolaro – West Virginia (10/08/91)
Found dead; investigative work suspected to be dangerous; not counted.
Yugoslavia
Multiple journalists killed during conflict in Croatia and Slovenia, including Norbert Werner, Nikolas Vogel, Egon Scotland, Stjepan Penic, Gordan Lederer, Zarko Kaic, Djuro Podboj, Nikola Stojanac, Pierre Blanchet, Damien Ruedin, Peter Brysky, Milan Zegarac, and others.
Circumstances include mortar attacks, crossfire, shell explosions, and mines.
Abbreviations and Sources
Amn. Int. – Amnesty International
BBC – British Broadcasting Corporation
CAJ – Canadian Association of Journalists
CJR – Columbia Journalist Review
CPJ – Committee to Protect Journalists
CCPJ – Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists
DJV – Deutscher JournalistenVerband
IFJ LARO – IFJ Latin American Regional Office
IHT – International Herald Tribune
IJI – International Journalism Institute
IOJ – International Organisation of Journalists
FT – Financial Times
NUJ – National Union of Journalists
RSF – Reporters Sans Frontières
AFP – Agence France-Presse
UPI – United Press International
AP – Associated Press
EFE – Spanish News Agency
ATS – Polish News Agency
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