(FLIP/IFEX) – On 20 September 2002, Barranquilla Mayor Humberto Caiafa refused to grant an interview to Myriam Peña, a journalist with the radio programme “Atlántico en Noticias”. The mayor said that the programme “did not report objectively” on the Barranquilla municipal government’s administration. The city of Barranquilla is located on Colombia’s northern coast. The incident […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 20 September 2002, Barranquilla Mayor Humberto Caiafa refused to grant an interview to Myriam Peña, a journalist with the radio programme “Atlántico en Noticias”. The mayor said that the programme “did not report objectively” on the Barranquilla municipal government’s administration. The city of Barranquilla is located on Colombia’s northern coast.
The incident was condemned by Jorge Cura, director of “Atlántico en Noticias” and the regional television news programme CV Noticias. On 23 September, Cura sent a letter outlining his concerns to the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) and a number of media outlets.
As Cura states in his letter, the incident took place at a press conference, when Peña attempted to interview Mayor Caiafa. When the journalist turned on her tape recorder, the mayor “rudely and emphatically ordered her to take it away, and announced that he would not make any official statements to ‘Atlántico en Noticias’.” On the afternoon of 20 September, a similar message was delivered to CV Noticias. Liliana Montoya, an official with the Municipal Public Relations Office, phoned the television programme and informed journalist Hilda Salas Garizábalo that Mayor Caiafa had ordered a boycott of “Atlántico en Noticias” and that the boycott extended to CV Noticias.
The mayor told the Caracol television station that he had never ordered a boycott. “There is no order to boycott [Atlántico en Noticias], nor is there one directed at [CV Noticias].” Mayor Caiafa claims that he told Peña in a respectful tone that he had concerns about the reporting on her programme and wanted to discuss how information should be handled. When Peña insisted on an interview, the mayor reiterated that he would not speak with her because “Atlántico en Noticias” presented government statements in a biased manner.
Montoya also denied having mentioned anything about a boycott. However, Salas told FLIP that Montoya informed her that “even though it pained her and she was not in agreement with the measures taken,” a decision had been reached to deny access to information to the media outlets directed by Cura.
Cura is a Chilean-born Colombian citizen. He has more than 20 years experience as a radio and television journalist in Barranquilla, including 10 years working as a correspondent with the television programme Noticiero 24 horas. He has received national awards for his work and the
Rey de España, an international award for journalism.
At the present time, the media outlets that Cura directs provide mostly local news coverage. Therefore, events concerning the Barranquilla municipality and particularly the mayor are central to his work.
The mayoral boycott of media outlets connected to Cura has generated a lot of publicity and as a result the situation has improved significantly. Peña told FLIP that since 24 September she has not
encountered any difficulties in gaining access to municipal officials. Meanwhile, the mayor approached Salas to tell her that there never was a boycott and that he is willing to answer her requests for information.
Principle 7 of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression states that public officials cannot impose conditions on the work of journalists. The principle states, “Prior conditioning of expressions, such as truthfulness, timeliness or impartiality is incompatible with the right to freedom of expression recognized in international instruments.”
