(FLIP/IFEX) – On 24 October 2003, a threatening message was delivered to the offices of the Noticolombia news programme, broadcast on the CNC local cable station, in Popayán, southern Colombia. The message was addressed at the programme’s reporters. The previous day, a news item aired on the programme alleged that a state-owned company’s fax machine […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 24 October 2003, a threatening message was delivered to the offices of the Noticolombia news programme, broadcast on the CNC local cable station, in Popayán, southern Colombia. The message was addressed at the programme’s reporters. The previous day, a news item aired on the programme alleged that a state-owned company’s fax machine had been used to distribute political propaganda for a mayoral candidate’s electoral campaign.
The message, which consisted of letters cut out from newspapers, praised one of the mayoral candidates and called for the death of the candidate’s enemies. The message contained other references to death. According to Adriana Payán, head of Noticolombia’s news team, the threat is connected to the 23 October broadcast of the programme.
In late September, Payán filed a complaint with the Popayán Prosecutor’s Office saying she had received threats after complaining about the use of public funds for the mayoralty campaign.
When questioned by FLIP about the threat, the mayoral candidate implicated in the incident claimed to have no knowledge of the message sent to Noticolombia.
FLIP urged the Interior Ministry’s Journalists’ Protection Programme to provide protection for Payán and the CNC station.
Popayán is located in south-western Colombia. The city has been affected by violence as community leaders and labour unionists have been victims of attacks. Journalists and the press have also been targeted.
