(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalists and Colombian media have not only become the targets of left wing guerrilla groups and ultra-right wing paramilitaries. On 7 June 2001, several people taking part in the protest against a new Transfer Law (Ley de Tranferenias) project also set out to attack some reporters and a television station’s offices. One of […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalists and Colombian media have not only become the targets of left wing guerrilla groups and ultra-right wing paramilitaries. On 7 June 2001, several people taking part in the protest against a new Transfer Law (Ley de Tranferenias) project also set out to attack some reporters and a television station’s offices.
One of the worst acts, as determined by IPYS’ correspondent in Colombia, occurred when a picket line of protesters attacked the offices of the television station Citytv, located in the centre of Bogotá, with explosive devices (‘papas bombas’). Two of the bombs exploded inside the building.
The IPYS correspondent reported that an explosive broke through a window pane on the first floor and landed close to the room where the programme “Mujeres en línea” was being broadcast. The other bomb (‘papa’) exploded on the second floor terrace.
Television programme coordinator Ricardo Lopez told the newspaper “El Tiempo”, “At that moment panic overtook everyone. The audience threw themselves to the floor to protect themselves, Host of “Mujeres en línea” Gloria Cecilia Gomez took cover behind a door and part of the technical team ran to the basement of the building.”
When chaos and disorder reigned in the place, Programme Director Claudia Valencia went to commercials and later the station directors decided to take the programme off the air. Minutes later, thanks to police aid, calm was restored. The attackers camouflaged themselves amongst the crowd of protesters in order to escape the authorities.
This is the second attack against the station’s offices in less than twenty-four hours. On the night of Wednesday 6 June, a group of youths, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, threw rocks at the Citytv building. The act occurred after the Chamber of Representatives First Commission (Comision Primera de la Cámara de Representantes) endorsed the legislative act approving the Transfer Law’s reform.
The last case that IPYS was informed about occurred in Bucaramanga, department of Santander capital in eastern Colombia. State police officers attacked media workers from RCN and Caracol stations, which took place as they were recording the detainment of a student who was protesting in that city.
Santander Chief of Police General Fortunato Guariña told IPYS that the police would begin an internal investigation to clarify the acts and penalise those found to be involved.
Overall, Thursday proved to be a difficult day for the Colombian press. Journalists from different media were prevented from reporting live and other reporters received insults and threats by national protest participants and hooded infiltrators at the demostrations.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– calling on them to investigate the attacks against journalists and the media
– requesting an investigation and prevention of posible infiltrations by members of urban guerrilla groups at demonstrations, which are high risk for the press
Appeals To
Andrés Pastrana Arango
President of the Republic
Carrera 8 No. 7-26, Bogotá
Fax: +571 336 21 09/286 79 37/286 74 34
Internet site: www.presidencia.gov.co
Alfonso Gomez Méndez
Attorney General
Diagonal 22B No. 52-01
Fax: +571 570 20 00, Ext. 1587
Email: contacto@fiscalia.gov.co
Senador Gabriel Zapata
President of the Senate’s Human Rights Commission
Carrera 7 No. 8-68, Oficina 707, edificio nuevo del Congreso
Email: Zapatagei@senado.gov.co
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
