Overview by Carlos Lauría Journalists throughout the Americas came under increased attack in 2004 for reporting on political corruption, drug trafficking, and organized crime. Although democratic rights have been expanding in the region, press freedom has not always improved as a result.
OverviewBy Joel Campagna The conflict in Iraq led to a harrowing number of press attacks in 2004, with local journalists and media support workers primarily in the line of fire. Twenty-three journalists and 16 support staff—drivers, interpreters, fixers, and guards—were killed while on the job in Iraq in 2004. In all, 36 journalists and 18…
Colombia For the first time in more than a decade, CPJ documented no case in 2004 in which a journalist was killed for his or her work. While violence against Colombian journalists may have receded—31 were murdered for their work during the last decade, according to CPJ research—it does not reflect an improvement in conditions…
New York, February 22, 2005—A car bomb exploded Sunday night outside the offices of RCN Television and Radio in Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city. A security guard and sound engineer were injured in the blast, which significantly damaged the facilities. About 66 pounds (30 kilograms) of explosives were packed into a blue Renault car and detonated…
FEBRUARY 20, 2005 Posted: February 22, 2005 RCN Television and Radio ATTACKED A car bomb exploded at 10:15 p.m. outside the offices of RCN Television and Radio in Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city. A security guard and sound engineer were injured in the blast, which significantly damaged the facilities.
New York, January 28, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned that a Colombian photographer is missing and feared abducted. On Saturday, January 22, Hernán Echeverri Arboleda, a photographer with the bimonthly regional newspaper Urabá Hoy (Urabá Today), disappeared on a rural highway in northwestern Colombia. Assailants thought to be members of the Revolutionary Armed…
JANUARY 11, 2005 Updated: September 2, 2005 Julio Hernando Palacios Sánchez, Radio Lemas KILLED—CONFIRMED Two armed motorcyclists shot Palacios, 55, a veteran radio news host, as he drove to work around 5:30 a.m. in the city of Cúcuta, in the unstable northeastern region near the Venezuelan border.
New York, January 11, 2005—Gunmen shot and killed a veteran Colombian radio news host early this morning in the city of Cúcuta, in the unstable northeastern region near the Venezuelan border. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating the murder to determine whether it was related to his journalism. Two armed motorcyclists shot Julio Hernando…