New York, November 4, 1999 — Reuters stringer Henry Romero, kidnapped by the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN) on October 26 as punishment for having published a photo of a rebel commander’s unmasked face, was freed near the town of Suárez. He reached his hometown of Cali at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday evening after walking and riding for two days.
CPJ welcomes Romero’s release, which follows the November 2 release of seven journalists kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). [See news alert for more] [Versión en Español]
However, CPJ urges the parties to Colombia’s civil war to stop resorting to the use of kidnapping and other tactics to intimidate journalists.
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