(FLIP/IFEX) – On the morning of 6 May 2003, journalist José Iván Aguilar survived an attack in the city of Villavicencio, Meta department, eastern Colombia. For the last 15 years, the 39-year-old journalist has been the director and owner of “Noticias Ya”, an information programme broadcast on the Super radio network. He is also a […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – On the morning of 6 May 2003, journalist José Iván Aguilar survived an attack in the city of Villavicencio, Meta department, eastern Colombia. For the last 15 years, the 39-year-old journalist has been the director and owner of “Noticias Ya”, an information programme broadcast on the Super radio network. He is also a correspondent for the Noticias Uno news programme.
At approximately 5:30 a.m. (local time), Aguilar left home and was driving towards the radio station when two men on a motorcycle stopped next to his vehicle. The men said, “it’s the journalist” and fired three gunshots at Aguilar. One of the bullets lightly grazed the journalist in the chest.
Aguilar told FLIP that he managed to save himself by suddenly stepping on the brake and throwing himself on the car floor. He got out of the car and ran towards the radio station, which was half a block away. Police arrived a short time later and took him to a clinic. He was released a half hour later after being treated.
Thus far, there is no indication as to the motive for the attack. “Recently, I have not reported on security matters that have stirred up any controversy,” Aguilar told FLIP. The journalist said he had not received any threats in recent months and did not know what might have sparked the attack. He did note that he was warned to be careful during threatening telephone calls received two years ago, but the calls had since ended.
According to the Villavicencio police press relations office, there are no leads as to the motive or the perpetrators. Police officers will accompany Aguilar for the foreseeable future. The regional Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation and officials of the Interior and Justice Ministry’s protection programme for journalists are discussing other ways to provide Aguilar with protection.
According to Yolanda Martínez, a journalist for La Voz del Llano radio station, Aguilar is well known. For the last 20 years, he has been working as a journalist for a number of national media outlets and as a correspondent for the Miami-based station Radio Única. The “Noticias Ya” programme, Martínez said, is an informative programme that often opens up the phonelines to its listeners. Although it is not an editorial programme, sometimes opinions are expressed, she added. “Information programmes in Meta usually do not touch on [sensitive subjects], they simply report the daily news,” the journalist noted.
In a prior attack on press freedom in Meta department, a bomb exploded near the Radio Súper station’s studios in Villavicencio on 6 April 2002. The station was apparently targeted for reporting on then presidential candidate Alvaro Uribe Vélez’s visit to the region (see IFEX alerts of 22 and 11 April 2002).
Journalists and the authorities are concerned about the security situation for journalists in Meta department. Recent events in other regions, including the assassination of four journalists, apparently for reasons related to their profession, and the attack on Aguilar, one of Villavicencio’s more experienced journalists, is cause for alarm. FLIP urged police and legal authorities to take action to ensure that journalists do not continue to be silenced via assassinations and threats.
