COLOMBIA The national press played a crucial role in exposing illegal paramilitary activities and links between paramilitary leaders and leading politicians. Provincial journalists, working in areas where paramilitaries and other illegal armed groups were prevalent, faced many challenges in trying to report this and other sensitive stories. Paramilitary fighters were behind the majority of documented…
JANUARY 15, 2008 Alexander Guerrero, Magangué Hoy, El Comunicador THREATENED Guerrero, a reporter for the Magangué-based dailies Magangué Hoy and El Comunicador, left his home in the northern Bolívar province after learning of an alleged plot to kill him, the journalist told CPJ. Guerrero said he believed the threats were retaliation for his reporting on…
NOVEMBER 24, 2007 Posted December 11, 2007 William Parra, Telesur HARRASSED Gen. Oscar Naranjo, director of the National Police, issued a statement on November 24 asserting that Parra, Colombia correspondent for the Caracas-based regional TV network Telesur, had manipulated information about a police officer who is being held by the left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of…
NOVEMBER 22, 2007 Posted January 18, 1008 Diro César González, La Tarde THREATENED González, director of the Barrancabermeja-based weekly newspaper La Tarde, received a letter mourning his death at his home in the northern province of Santander. In 2006, González had been forced to flee following repeated death threats linked to his reporting on local…
NOVEMBER 22, 2007 Posted December 18, 2007 Feibir Beltrán Luna, Cauca Visón, Cauca Noticias THREATENED Beltrán, owner and director of local TV station Cauca Visión and the online daily Cauca Noticias, was threatened with death in the eastern city of Popayán, following reports by the station on local police corruption, the journalist told CPJ.
New York, October 24, 2007—Colombian journalists Hollman Morris and Geovanny Álvarez Castro left the country last week following death threats linked to their reporting. The Committee to Protect Journalists called today on Colombian authorities to conduct a speedy investigation into the threats and to ensure that the two journalists are able to return to Colombia…
New York, October 24, 2007—Colombian journalists Hollman Morris and Geovanny Álvarez Castro left the country last week following death threats linked to their reporting. The Committee to Protect Journalists called today on Colombian authorities to conduct a speedy investigation into the threats and to ensure that the two journalists are able to return to Colombia…
New York, October 11, 2007 Mr. Álvaro Uribe Vélez President of the Republic of Colombia Casa de Nariño Bogotá D.C., Colombia Via facsimile: 011-571-337-5890 Dear Mr. President: We strongly object to your recent accusations against two prominent journalists. Your strident and personal comments have resulted in multiple death threats against these journalists and have forced…
New York, October 9, 2007—Colombian reporter Gonzalo Guillén has been forced to flee his home in Bogotá after receiving more than 20 death threats following comments made by President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, the journalist said today. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Uribe today to personally ensure that Colombian authorities conduct a prompt investigation…