(RSF/IFEX) – A former member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) guerrilla group who is serving a 12-year prison sentence has retracted the statement he made implicating journalist Freddy Muñoz, who has been held since 19 November 2006 on charges of “rebellion and terrorism.” The prosecution witness finally […]
(RSF/IFEX) – A former member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) guerrilla group who is serving a 12-year prison sentence has retracted the statement he made implicating journalist Freddy Muñoz, who has been held since 19 November 2006 on charges of “rebellion and terrorism.” The prosecution witness finally said he did not know Muñoz.
The Colombia correspondent of the pan-Latin American television network Telesur, Muñoz was arrested at the Bogotá airport on his return from Caracas, where Telesur has its headquarters. The Colombian authorities accused him of taking part in a FARC bombing in 2002.
The charges were based on vague and questionable claims made by three former guerrilla fighters, one of whom is the person who has now retracted his testimony. In addition, a forensic report has established that Muñoz’s scars were not caused by the mishandling of explosives.
RSF reiterates its call for Muñoz’s release in view of the fact that the charges are not supported by any hard evidence.
