Investigation into Guatemalan journalist’s murder must consider link to his work

Aged 47, Carlos Humberto Cal Ical was shot and killed near a shoe factory in San Cristóbal Verapaz, in the northern department of Alta Verapaz, as he was returning home on the night of 26 April, according to Guatemalan media. Firefighters confirmed his death at the scene and alerted the National Civil Police and the public prosecutor's office.

Carlos Humberto Cal Ical had been a member of the Association of Journalists and Social Communicators of Alta Verapaz since 2008. The association's president, Renaldo Esau Yash Asencio, told RSF that he practiced journalism "independently" and had joined the association to receive training and improve his work. He collaborated with Radio Tezulutlán, Stereo Gerardi, Al Día and Noticias La Esfinge Cobán, and was active on Facebook, where he shared local information through a page with around 8,900 followers and more than 5,000 posts.

Located to the north of the capital, Guatemala City, both Alta Verapaz and the neighbouring department of Baja Verapaz are marked by a strong presence of indigenous communities and by converging conflicts about land, hydroelectric projects, mining activities, pollution of water sources and violent evictions.

According to RSF data, journalists in these departments are exposed to threats and intimidation in connection with their reporting. In 2025, RSF warned about the high levels of risk for local journalists covering environmental issues in Guatemala.

The government issued a statement condemning Carlos Humberto Cal Ical's murder. In its own statement condemning the murder, the Association of Journalists and Social Communicators of Alta Verapaz called for swift progress in the investigation and for protection measures for the local media.