Journalist Norvey Diaz killed

On 18 October 1996, Norvey Diaz, director of the program “Rondando por los barrios” on Radio Colina, was killed in Girardot, a resort town 135 km from Bogota. Diaz had left home to attend a meeting. He was last seen alive in a street in the company of a young woman. His body was found […]

On 18 October 1996, Norvey Diaz, director of the program
“Rondando por los barrios” on Radio Colina, was killed in
Girardot, a resort town 135 km from Bogota. Diaz had left home to
attend a meeting. He was last seen alive in a street in the
company of a young woman. His body was found with a bullet wound
in the nape of his neck and a cigarette butt in his hand.
Investigators believe that his murder was carefully planned by
professionals.

Six years ago, Diaz had received frequent funeral wreaths
(“coronas mortuarias”) and letters warning him “to hold his
tongue, otherwise something unfortunate would happen to him.” In
1990, Diaz had reported on his radio program the alleged
involvement of police officials in the murder of street people,
as well as on the apparent investments made by drug traffickers
in vacation resorts in the city. Colleagues stated that although
Diaz had always reported on irregularities in society, he had,
for the past few months, lessened the virulence of his reports.
Shortly before his murder, Diaz had been named by Todelar, the
company which owns Radio Colina, to a post which would have taken
him away from his journalistic duties.

Recommended Action

His Excellency Ernesto Samper Pizano

President of the Republic of Colombia

Palacio de Narino

Carrera 8, No. 7-26

Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

Fax: +57 1 289 3377 / 286 7434 / 286 7324/ 287 7937

Senor Ministro Carlos Medellin Becerra

Minister of Justice

Ministry of Justice

Santafe de Bogota, Colombia

Fax: +57 1 281 6384

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