PEN International protests the recent murders of two Brazilian journalists, Paulo Roberto Cardoso Rodrigues and Mario Randolpho Marques Lopes. Both men were killed in attacks that bore the hallmarks of contracted assassinations. In the last two years, seven print journalists have been killed in Brazil. PEN calls on the Brazilian authorities to investigate these murders as a matter of the utmost urgency, and to bring those responsible to justice.

Background Information

Paulo Roberto Cardoso Rodrigues—better known as Paulo Rocaro—was shot to death in Ponta Porá on the night of February 12, 2012. He was the editor of the local daily Jornal Da Praça and the news website Mercosul News.

Rocaro had been driving home when he was attacked by two armed men riding a motorcycle. They fired at least five bullets into him.

Rocaro, 51, reported on politics. According to local reports, he had been critical of the local mayor and had publicly lent his support to a rival mayoral candidate. On the night he was killed, the journalist had been returning home after a meeting with the opposition candidate.
 
The killing took place near the Paraguayan border, a region of Brazil known for organized criminal activity and for political corruption.  Police are reportedly investigating the crime as a possible contract killing, and are looking into political motives, among others.
 
In a separate incident, Mario Randolpho Marques Lopes, editor-in-chief of the news website Vassouras na Net was murdered alongside his girlfriend on February 8-9, 2012. The couple was abducted from his home in the city of Barra do Piraí in Rio de Janeiro state on February 8. Both were found dead the following day; Randolpho had been shot in the head.

Randolpho, 50, wrote articles that frequently accused local officials of being corrupt; his most recent piece leveled charges of corruption at local judges and courts. 
 
Randolpho had been the victim of violence previously. In July 2011, an unidentified gunman entered the Vassouras na Net newsroom and shot the journalist five times in the head. The attack left Randolpho in a coma for three days, but he miraculously recovered.
 
For further information on previous PEN cases from Brazil please see:

Valério Nascimento (shot dead in May 2011);
 
Auro Ida (shot dead in July 2011).

Write A Letter

  • Protesting the murders of Paulo Roberto Cardoso Rodrigues and Mario Randolpho Marques Lopes;
  • Noting that seven print journalists have been murdered in the space of two years;
  • Calling on the Brazilian authorities to carry out a full and impartial investigation into the killings as a matter of urgency, and to ensure that the culprits are brought to justice.

Send Your Letter To

Sr. José Eduardo CardozoFederal Minister of Justice
Exmo. Ministro
Ministério da Justiça
Esplanada dos Ministérios,
Bloco "T", 70712-902 - Brasília/DF Brasil
Fax: + 55 61 3322 6817 / 3224 3398
Salutation: Dear Minister
Electronic messages can be sent via the Minister’s web site

Sra. Maria do Rosário Nunes
Federal Human Rights Secretary
Secretaria Especial de Direitos Humanos
Exmo. Secretário Especial
Esplanada dos Ministérios, Bloco "T" - 4º andar, 70064-900 Brasília/DF - Brasil
Fax: + 55 61 3226 7980
Salutation: Dear Secretary

Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Brazil in your country if possible.

Please check with PEN if sending appeals after March 30, 2012: ftw [at] pen.org