(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed concern after a number of newspapers published in Santander department (north-eastern Colombia), were threatened by United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) paramilitaries on 8 July 2002. “It is time that the armed groups stop viewing journalists as targets and controlling information as an acceptable tactic,” stated […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has expressed concern after a number of newspapers published in Santander department (north-eastern Colombia), were threatened by United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) paramilitaries on 8 July 2002. “It is time that the armed groups stop viewing journalists as targets and controlling information as an acceptable tactic,” stated Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general, in a letter to AUC leader Carlos Castaño. RSF asked Interior Minister Armando Estrada Villa to use all means at his disposal to protect journalists. “It is essential that the authorities contact the media outlets that have been targeted, to prevent these threats from turning into assassinations,” added Ménard.
In addition, RSF expressed concern over the 8 July kidnapping of four employees of the RCN Radio and Radio Caracol stations, allegedly carried out by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) guerrillas. The organisation urged the FARC to free the four individuals and promise to respect Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, which protects “persons taking no active part in the hostilities”. Since 1995, the guerrillas have kidnapped approximately 50 journalists, mostly to demand that certain information is distributed in exchange for the hostages’ release.
Journalists have become military targets in the armed conflict between the AUC and the guerrillas of the FARC (Marxists) and the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberacion Nacional, ELN – supporters of Che Guevara’s philosophy). Castaño (AUC), Manuel Marulanda (FARC) and Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista (ELN) are included on RSF’s list of the 38 most dangerous press freedom predators in the world. Colombia is the most dangerous country on the continent for information professionals, 40 of whom have been killed since 1991.
According to information collected by RSF, in an interview which appeared in the 8 July edition of the daily “Vanguardia Liberal”, Commander “Alex”, of the AUC central block, stated: “Either [the press] stops toying with the community’s pain, or we will find ourselves in the unfortunate position of having to execute someone, so that they understand the people’s pain.” According to “Alex”, the threats stem from the “sensationalistic” way in which local media report on the Barrancabermeja port. The oil-producing region is disputed territory between the AUC and the guerrillas. During a press conference, representatives of five newspapers published in Santander department, including the weeklies “La Noticia”, “La Tarde”, “La Portada”, “El Vocero”, and the daily “Vanguardia Liberal”, condemned the threats and urged the authorities to provide them with security and ensure that their right to inform is upheld.
Moreover, according to the information collected by RSF, Luis Eduardo Perdomo and José Rodríguez, a driver and technician for RCN Radio, respectively, along with Oscar González and Elio Fabio Giraldo, a technician and driver for Radio Caracol, respectively, were kidnapped on 8 July presumably by FARC members. The incident occurred while they were reporting on the national long-distance bicycle race, in Tolima department (central Colombia). RCN Radio engineer Valdemar Campos confirmed that one of the technicians called him from a cellular phone to tell him that the four were being held by the guerrillas, who would likely let them go and keep the stations’ equipment and vehicles. The kidnappers asked for a sum of money in exchange for the confiscated material. RSF spoke with the two radio stations and was told that, as of 9 July, the four individuals were still being detained. In a joint press release, RCN Radio and Radio Caracol asked for their employees’ release, “in the name of freedom of expression and information,” and “so that they can continue to work for Colombian sports.”
