Pedro Palma
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Pedro Palma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | c. 1967 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Died | 13 February 2014 Miguel Pereira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Cause of death | Murder by gunfire |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, editor and publisher |
| Years active | 1994–2014 (20 years) |
| Employer | Panorama Regional |
| Children | 1 |
Pedro Palma (c. 1967 – 13 February 2014) was a Brazilian journalist, editor and publisher for the Panorama Regional in Miguel Pereira, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Palma was known for uncovering alleged corruption within the local government, and he had received death threats before his assassination.
Career
Pedro Palma was the founder, publisher and director of Panorama Regional since 15 May 1994. It was a local newspaper that circulated in several nearby municipalities.[3] It was distributed in the region around Miguel Pereira, such as Barra do Piraí and Vassouras[2][4] The newspaper frequently exposed alleged irregularities in local administrations.[5] Five months prior to his death, Palma was using the Panorama Regional to report cases of corruption, embezzlement and lack of public money transfers, mainly involving the mayor Claudio Valente and the first lady and Social Development secretary, Kathy Kozlowski.[6]
Death
Pedro Palma was gunned down by two men outside of his home on Rua Dona Carola around 8 p.m. on 13 February 2014 in the Governador Portela district, Miguel Pereira, Brazil.[2][5][7] Two unknown individuals[8] wearing helmets shot him at least three times from a motorcycle, which was recorded by security cameras.[5][6] According to the military police, Palma died instantly. Palma's body was referred to the Instituto Médico-Legal de Barra do Piraí.[2][9][10] Palma's daughter witnessed the murder.[10]
A suspect from Rio de Janeiro was arrested in the case.[11]
Context
According to Reporters Without Borders in 2013, Brazil was declared the deadliest country for press workers on the American continent. Natalia Mazotte quoted the minister of justice Jose Eduardo Cardozo, stating that in 2013 there were 175 cases of violence against press workers.[12][13]
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 31 other journalists were murdered in direct reprisal for their work.[14] Brazil is ranked the seventh country with the highest journalist murders, and the deadliest country in Latin America for journalists in 2013.[9][15]
Impact
A friend of Palma told O Globo newspaper that Palma had been receiving death threats for many weeks but was not taking them seriously.[16] Palma had been denouncing wrongdoing in the office of the mayor Miguel Pereira, a city located 62 miles from the state capital, and the city where Palma was murdered.[17] The Committee to Protect Journalists lists his murder as confirmed that he was killed as a result of his journalism.[16]