(FLIP/IFEX) – On 8 March 2006, “La Opinión” newspaper photojournalist Carlos Humberto Patiño was attacked by the transportation secretary for the city of Cúcuta, Cesar Rojas Ayala, and by other participants at what was apparently a political meeting. The incident took place in the Business Club (Club del Comercio) where Patiño had been sent to […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 8 March 2006, “La Opinión” newspaper photojournalist Carlos Humberto Patiño was attacked by the transportation secretary for the city of Cúcuta, Cesar Rojas Ayala, and by other participants at what was apparently a political meeting.
The incident took place in the Business Club (Club del Comercio) where Patiño had been sent to report on a meeting. Patiño entered the meeting as the transportation secretary was speaking and took a few photographs of the main table. Rojas Ayala then hurled himself onto the reporter and struck him, saying: “You can’t publish those.” Public officials are forbidden under Colombian law to take part in partisan political activities while in their posts.
Immediately, other participants tried to assault Patiño and to wrest his camera from him. According to the complaint Patiño lodged with the Office of the Prosecutor General, the assailants held him there for 15 minutes, assaulted him and destroyed the photos he had taken.
Club manager Gloria Rodríguez eventually entered the meeting room and managed to extract the photographer. Claudia Gallo, the club’s chief of services, stated that it appears that Patiño had not identified himself when he entered the room where the meeting was taking place.
Patiño affirmed that there were political campaign banners in the meeting. Nonetheless, Cúcuta mayor Ramiro Suárez Corzo told FLIP that the transportation secretary was not campaigning, but rather that he was there to celebrate international women’s day.
Regional Attorney Nelson Flórez told FLIP that his office is presently conducting a preliminary investigation into disciplinary action against the transportation secretary for his assault on Patiño.
FLIP condemns the attack on Patiño, and urges both civil and military authorities to respect the work of journalists, photographers and photojournalists. It is the responsibility of authorities to provide an environment conducive to the exercise of journalism. Any obstruction imposed upon a journalist, or aggression committed against one, constitutes a violation of the freedom of the press.
