Journalists Killed in 1992: IFJ Preliminary Survey

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) compiled a preliminary survey of journalists killed in 1992. This list may not be exhaustive, as the IFJ includes only journalists killed while working or as a result of their work. The survey also counts journalists who die in accidents and those specifically targeted. Where there is uncertainty about the connection of a death to journalistic activity, or where inquiries are ongoing, the case is noted but not included in the official tally. The IFJ coordinates closely with other journalists' safety organizations, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (New York) and Reporters Sans Frontières (Montpellier), which apply slightly different criteria. The 1992 totals may be updated once further information is received and consolidated by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Overall Figures 1992

Journalists: 62 killed, 39 counted
Other media workers: 4 killed, all 4 counted
Total: 66 killed, 43 counted

Angola – 2 Killed (1 Counted)

Fernando Mardelino – Jango, PRESS, 20/10/92
Mardelino, founder of the journal Jango, was killed at a restaurant with his wife and sister. Not counted.
David Bernardino – Njongo, PRESS, 04/12/92
Bernardino, a doctor and publisher critical of UNITA, was assassinated in his office following death threats. Counted.

Azerbaijan – 1 Killed (0 Counted)

Tchinguiz Mustafaiev – Azeri TV, TELEVISION, 15/06/92
Reportedly killed near Nakhitchevanik village in Agdam on the Nagorny-Karabakh border. Not counted.

Bosnia-Herzegovina – 8 Killed (7 Counted)

Dusan Tepsic – News Agency SRNA, PRESS, 12/11/92
Killed in a crossfire near Brcko.
Tihomir Tunukovic – BBC, TELEVISION, 01/11/92
Killed by a mortar while working as a cameraman.
Jordi Puyol – AFNE (Madrid), PHOTOGRAPHY, 17/05/92, age 24
Injured by grenade explosion alongside colleagues; later died.
Ivo Standeker – Mladina Magazine, PRESS, 16/06/92, age 31
Shot while covering conflict; died en route to hospital.
David Kaplan – ABC, TELEVISION, 13/08/92, age 45
Sniper killed him while accompanying Yugoslav Prime Minister Milan Panic.
Salko Hondo – Oslobodenje, PHOTOGRAPHY, 16/07/92
Killed by a shell photographing civilians in Sarajevo.
Sasa Lazarevic – Sarajevo TV, TELEVISION, 19/06/92
Killed at home. Not counted.
Kiafis Smajlovic – Oslobodenje, PRESS, 09/04/92
First journalist killed in Bosnia unrest, shot in office.

Colombia – 7 Killed (3 Counted)

Cortes Soto – Urra (Radio, Valencia), PRESS, 16/11/92
Gunned down at home; suspected Popular Liberation Army involvement. Counted.
John Felix Tirado Castalo – Diario del Otun, PRESS, 05/08/92, age 31
Shot on a bicycle with a child; case under investigation. Not counted.
Jose Miguel Amaya Espinosa – PRESS, ?/03/92
Police uncertain on motive. Not counted.
Carlos Alberto Llanos Miln – Radio Noticiero Popular, RADIO, 21/01/92, age 38
Killed after argument; motive unclear. Not counted.
Jorge Alberto Bermudez Zambrano – Freelance, PHOTOGRAPHY, 01/02/92, age 42
Killed during attempted robbery while on vacation. Not counted.
Freddy Mario Erazo – El Combo Deportivo de Radio Super, RADIO, 14/02/92, age 29
Abducted and killed; likely linked to professional activity. Counted.
Ismael Jaimes – La Opinión, PRESS, 06/05/92
Killed after dropping children at school; believed killed for journalistic work. Counted.

Croatia – 3 Killed (1 Counted)

Cristian Wörtenberg – ATS/Swiss Radio, RADIO, 06/01/92, age 27
Killed after joining First International Croatian Platoon; IFJ not counting pending investigation. Not counted.
Paul Jenks – EPA, PHOTOGRAPHY, 17/01/92, age 31
Shot in head during ceasefire in Osijek. Counted.
Sinisa Glavasevic – Vukovar Radio, RADIO, last seen end of 1991
Believed executed by Yugoslav Federal Army. Not counted.

Egypt – 1 Killed (1 Counted)

Farag Fouda – October (weekly), PRESS, 09/06/92, age 47
Shot by Islamic extremists for outspoken criticism.

France – 3 Killed (2 Media Workers)

Michel Vivarelli – Radio-Corse F.M., RADIO TECHNICIAN
Michel Mattier – Radio France, TECHNICIAN
Pierre Giudicelli – RCFM, TECHNICIAN
Died when stadium scaffolding collapsed; 20 others injured. All counted.

Guatemala – 1 Killed (0 Counted)

Ramon De La Mora Bueno – Radio Universitaria / Por Esto, PRESS, 29/02/92
Tortured and killed by soldiers; inquiry ongoing. Not counted.

Haiti – 1 Killed (0 Counted)

Robinson Joseph – former director Radio Lumiere, RADIO, 03/08/92
Killed at roadblock; uncertain if journalist at the time. Not counted.

Hong Kong – 1 Killed (1 Counted)

Chang Kang-nan – The Express, PRESS, 18/01/92
Beaten to death; likely killed for critical columns.

Lebanon – 2 Killed (1 Counted)

Gabrille Marian Hulsen – Spiegel / ZDF TV, PRESS/TV, 18/08/92, age 29
Killed by car bomb; motive unclear. Not counted.
Moustapha Jaha – Hissad al Ayam, PRESS, 15/01/92, age 56
Gunned down in Beirut; targeted attack.

Moldavia – 1 Killed (1 Counted)

Valery Vozdvijenski – Cable TV Dniestr, TELEVISION, 19/08/92
Killed reporting shootout between police and Russian soldiers.

Papua New Guinea – 1 Killed (1 Counted)

Per-Ove Carlsson – Documentary FILM, 29/04/92, age 36
Throat cut while filming; initially reported as suicide. Not counted.

Peru – 5 Killed (4 Counted)

Marco Aleman Suarez – Pagina 2, PRESS, 07/02/92
Killed by bomb near U.S. embassy; under investigation. Not counted.
Nory Navarro Gomez – Radio Propósito, RADIO
Kidnapped and killed by paramilitary group. Counted.
Edwin Barrios Blanca – Radio Libertad, RADIO, 08-10/03/92
Kidnapped by Tupac Amaru; corpse found with others. Counted.
Alejandro Perez – CANAL 2, TELEVISION, 09/06/92
Killed when station bombed by Shining Path. Counted.
Adolfo Isuiza Urquia – Radio Tropical, RADIO, 23/08/92
Murdered after threats from drug traffickers. Counted.

Philippines – 2 Killed (0 Counted)

Danilo Vergara – Philippine Post, PRESS, 01/07/92
Shot in Iligan City; motive under investigation. Not counted.
Ladjid Jade Ladja – Prensa Zamboanga, PRESS, 03/07/92
Shot outside Zamboanga; motive unknown. Not counted.

Spain – 1 Killed (1 Counted)

Pedro González – TV Español, TELEVISION, 02-03/05/92
Died in car accident while covering bicycle race; exact date unclear.

Sudan – 1 Killed (1 Counted)

Helge Hummelvoll – Freelance PHOTOGRAPHER, 27/09/92, age 29
Killed in crossfire during photo documentation of drought and war.

Tajikistan – 4 Killed (4 Counted)

Amirdjonov Shirindjon – Tadjik Radio, RADIO, 07/05/92, age 31
Zarobekov Olim – Tadjik Radio, RADIO, 07/05/92, age 44
Sharaliev Murodullo – Sadoi Mardum, PRESS, 05/05/92, age 43
Kobilov Tura – Bairaki Dusti, PRESS, 02/07/92, age 57
All killed during civil conflict while performing journalistic duties.

Chad – 3 Killed (1 Counted)

Djerabe Declaud – Television Tchad, TELEVISION, 28/11/92
Gunned down while returning home; likely due to union activity. Counted.
D’Albo Madjigoto – Radio National, RADIO, 04/10/92
Shot while returning from assignment; motive unclear. Not counted.
Maxime Koudingar Kladoumbaye – Agence Tchadienne de Presse, PRESS, 23/01/92
Died from injuries inflicted by military. Not counted.

Turkey – 13 Killed (10 Counted)

Namik Taranci – Gercek, PRESS, 20/11/92
Yasar Aktay – Freelance, PRESS, 10/11/92 Not counted.
Musa Anter – Yeni Ülke / Özgür Gündem, PRESS, 20/10/92
Hüseyin Deniz – Özgür Gündem, PRESS, 09/08/92
Yahya Orhan – Özgür Gündem, PRESS, 31/07/92
Cetin Ababay – Ozgur Halk Dergisi, PRESS, 30/07/92
Hafiz Akdemir – Özgür Gündem, PRESS, 08/06/92
Mecit Akgun – Yeni Ulke, PRESS Not counted.
Bulent Ulku – Korfeze Bakis, PRESS Not counted.
Izzet Kezer – Sabah, PHOTOGRAPHY, 23/03/92
Yekta Okur – Star 1 Television, TELEVISION, 18/02/92
Cengiz Altun – Yeni Ulke, PRESS, 24/02/92
Halit Göngen – 2000’e Dogru, PRESS, 18/02/92
Burhan Karadeniz – Özgür Gündem, PRESS Seriously injured

United States – 2 Killed (0 Counted)

Warren Duliere – West Virginia Advocate, PRESS, 30/04/92
Killed in stream after threats for anti-KKK reporting. Not counted.
Manuel de Dios Unanue – Cambio 21, PRESS, 11/03/92, age 48
Shot in New York; motive under investigation. Not counted.

Venezuela – 3 Killed (3 Counted)

Virgilio Fernandez – El Universal, PRESS, 27/11/92
Killed covering failed coup in Caracas.
Enrique Key – 2.001, GRAPHISM, 27/11/92
Killed while working in Caracas.
Johnny Brugera Vergara – The Coraven Press, Production Assistant, 27/11/92
Killed by aircraft attempting to bomb presidential palace.

Abbreviations & Sources

Amn. Int. = Amnesty International, London
BBC = British Broadcasting Corporation
CAJ = The Canadian Association of Journalists, Ottawa
CJR = Columbia Journalist Review, New York
CPJ = Committee to Protect Journalists, New York
CCPJ = The Canadian Committee to Protect Journalists, Toronto
DJV = Deutscher JournalistenVerband, IFJ Member union, Bonn
IFJ LARO = IFJ's Latin American Regional Office, Caracas
IHT = International Herald Tribune, Paris
IJI = International Journalism Institute, Prague
IFEX = International Freedom of Expression eXchange, Toronto
Intl. Pen = International Pen, London
IOJ = International Organisation of Journalists, Prague
FT = Financial Times, London
NUJ = National Union of Journalists, Designated country
RSF = Reporters Sans FrontiŠres, Montpellier

Wire Services

AFP UPI AP EFE ATS

This record provides a detailed overview of journalists killed globally in 1992, highlighting both the risks faced by media workers and the ongoing investigations into their deaths.

Pakistan Freelance Journalists Association - PFJA