Articles by Foundation for Press Freedom – FLIP
Protective measures for journalists at risk cannot interfere with their freedom of expression rights, says constitutional court
(FLIP/IFEX) – The following is an abbreviated version of a 9 December 2008 FLIP alert: After reviewing the case of a journalist who was under government protection as part of the Interior Ministry’s Journalists’ Protection Programme (Programa de Protección a Periodistas), the Constitutional Court ruled that the government cannot take measures to restrict a journalist’s […]
Journalists threatened, attacked during protests
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 26 November 2008, various journalists were threatened, intimidated and attacked in Mocoa, the capital of Putumayo, while they were covering protests by citizens against the shutdown of investment companies involved in illegal businesses known as “pyramid schemes”. These events occurred when hundreds of people who invested with the DMG company blocked the […]
Journalist brutally assaulted by town councillor
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 28 November 2008, in the northeastern city of Barrancabermeja, Santander province, journalist Rosberg Perilla of “Enlace TV” was assaulted by town councillor Nelson Riaño Galvis. The journalist told FLIP that he was at the town council offices to interview the town hall president when he felt a blunt object hit him several […]
Two journalists receive death threats
(FLIP/IFEX) – Two journalists, Jazmín Romero, a reporter for the “Vanguardia Liberal” newspaper, and Mario Ruiz, of the local Pase TV television station, were recently threatened in the municipality of Socorro, Santander, in northeastern Colombia. The threats against Romero took place on 13 November 2008 when she received a call on her mobile phone from […]
Judge issues order for arrest of “Semana” magazine editor
(FLIP/IFEX) – A criminal court judge has issued an arrest warrant for “Semana” magazine editor Alejandro Santos after coming to the conclusion that the magazine has failed to completely carry out a previous court order. The arrest warrant calls for Santos’ detention for three days and also applies a fine equivalent to six months of […]
Magazine editor could face jail sentence over article
(FLIP/IFEX) – In spite of the fact that “Semana” magazine has issued two corrections concerning information it published on allegations about the influence a particular individual has within Colombia’s high courts, a judge reviewing a complaint against the magazine has deemed them insufficient. As a result, Alejandro Santos Rubino, the editor of the magazine, could […]
“Noticias Uno” correspondents threatened in Medellín and Quibdó
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 17 and 18 October 2008, “Noticias Uno” correspondents Fernando Cifuentes and Leonardo Montoya, who are based in Medellín (Antioquia) and Quibdó (Chocó) respectively, received threatening telephone calls from lawyer Leonel Torres as a result of investigations the media outlet is conducting into allegations of irregularities in the lawyer’s activities. Torres is the […]
Mayor verbally assaults journalists
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 10 October 2008, the mayor of Sabanalarga (Atlántico), Carlos Roca Roa, verbally assaulted journalist Evelin Coba Vides, editor of the “La Libertad” daily, in Barranquilla. Roca was protesting against the publication on the same day of an article about a penalty imposed on his municipality for failing to submit a report to […]