(FLIP/IFEX) – On 27 November 2003, Beatriz Elena Mantilla, a correspondent for the daily “Vanguardia Liberal”, based in Barrancabermeja, received a telephone call from the Nueva Granada battalion commander, Colonel Ricardo Bernal. According to the journalist, Bernal said, “As of today, I declare you a ‘persona non grata’ in the battalion and I myself am […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 27 November 2003, Beatriz Elena Mantilla, a correspondent for the daily “Vanguardia Liberal”, based in Barrancabermeja, received a telephone call from the Nueva Granada battalion commander, Colonel Ricardo Bernal. According to the journalist, Bernal said, “As of today, I declare you a ‘persona non grata’ in the battalion and I myself am going to make sure that the state security forces know what kind of person you are.”
The incident stems from an article, written by the journalist and published in the daily, about the cover-up of a soldier’s accidental death. According to Mantilla, the battalion leader was upset that the newspaper gave more coverage to the story about the soldier’s death than to a visit by President Alvaro Uribe to install the first stone in a bridge that is being constructed between Barrancabermeja and Yondó.
Bernal said that he did not criticise the story’s publication, but added that he did not agree with giving more importance to the soldier’s death than to other events. He denied having said that he would cause a rift between the journalist and security forces.
The daily’s editor-in-chief, Carlos Alirio Ibarra, confirmed the journalist’s story and told FLIP that Bernal had spoken to Mantilla in a very aggressive manner.
FLIP reminds the authorities that it is the duty of journalists to report on events and their work must be respected by the authorities.
