The Colombian government has instituted an official censorship decree aimed at television news programs in the country. The National Television Committee (CNT) ordered the programs to abstain from transmitting non-official information that “aggravates public order.” The CNT took this step on 23 August 1996 in response to news programs which aired coverage of clashes between […]
The Colombian government has instituted an official censorship
decree aimed at television news programs in the country. The
National Television Committee (CNT) ordered the programs to
abstain from transmitting non-official information that
“aggravates public order.” The CNT took this step on 23 August
1996 in response to news programs which aired coverage of clashes
between coca farmers and soldiers in the towns of Caquet and
Putumayo. As well, officials in Parliament have pushed for an
amendment to Television Law 182 in Congress which would hold back
the extension of the current contracts of television news
programs. This was apparently in reprisal for information
broadcast on television that angered the government.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
to silence television news programs “gag orders” which would
restrain the independence and freedom of the media
parliaments that, when confronted by information they do not
like, react by invoking censorship and blaming their problems on
journalists
norms that impinge on the independence and freedom of the media,
adding that all measures against the media directly affect the
constitutional guarantees of the freedom to inform and to be
informed to which every Colombian citizen is entitled
Appeals To
His Excellency Ernesto Samper Pizano
President of the Republic
Palacio de Narino
Carrera 8, No. 7-26
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Fax: +57 1 289 3377 / 286 7434 / 286 7324/ 287 7937
Dr. Horacio Serpa Uribe
Minister of the Interior
Ministry of the Interior
Carrera 8, No.8-09, Piso 2
Santafe de Bogota, Colombia
Fax: +57 1 286 6524 / 286 0485
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
