(FLIP/IFEX) – On 22 October 2003, journalist Yaneth Montoya Martínez, a correspondent for the daily “Vanguardia Liberal”, based in the city of Barrancabermeja in northeastern Colombia, received a death threat. According to information obtained by FLIP, an anonymous caller phoned the Ombudsman’s Office and said the journalist was included in a list of individuals that […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 22 October 2003, journalist Yaneth Montoya Martínez, a correspondent for the daily “Vanguardia Liberal”, based in the city of Barrancabermeja in northeastern Colombia, received a death threat. According to information obtained by FLIP, an anonymous caller phoned the Ombudsman’s Office and said the journalist was included in a list of individuals that paramilitary forces were going to kill. On 24 October, the journalist was again threatened when a caller left a message at her residence, warning her to “be careful because they are planning to kill you.”
Barrancabermeja Ombudsman Jorge Gómez said the threat could be linked to Montoya’s work as a journalist. According to the newspaper’s director, the journalist reports on public security matters and the activities of community organisations. He further stated that the journalist may be receiving threats because of articles she has written, since “she is a person who writes the truth.”
As a protective measure, FLIP arranged for the journalist to receive round-the-clock accompaniment from the National Police.
On 15 October, journalist Pedro Javier Galvis, an editor for the weekly “La Noticia”, also received a threat. Galvis had been in Barrancabermeja for less than 21 days, when two armed individuals approached him on a motorcycle and told him he had one week to leave the city. The journalist left Barrancabermeja five days later.
Galvis told FLIP that he does not know what the motives for the threat could be, nor does he know who might be responsible. He believes that it could be linked to his work as a journalist, but does not know which report may have provoked the threat. “La Noticia” director Janeth Ojeda also said that the weekly has not been able to identify the motives for the threat.
Historically, armed groups operating outside of the law have fought for control of Barrancabermeja. At present, paramilitary forces predominate in the city.
FLIP condemns these attacks against press freedom and urges Colombian media outlets and international press freedom organisations to support journalists in Barrancabermeja. The organisation also calls on the authorities to provide the protective measures necessary to allow media outlets in Barrancabermeja to continue operating.
