Articles by Foundation for Press Freedom – FLIP
Military accuse Arauca radio journalists of being “apologists for terrorism,” station suspends broadcasting for day to protest FARC pressures
(FLIP/IFEX) – Various media outlets in the department of Arauca continue to face difficulties following the insistence by the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) that they broadcast a FARC press release or face being declared military targets. On the morning of 9 August 2007, during a call-in […]
Staff of television news programme harassed for reporting on bridge construction
(FLIP/IFEX) – The following is an abridged version of a 9 August 2007 FLIP statement: Employees of the “Noticias Uno” television programme have faced some harassment as a result of an investigative report. The report concerned the building of a bridge near a farm owned by President Álvaro Uribe Vélez. The president reportedly stood to […]
Radio journalists in Arauca must read announcement on air or become military targets, FARC threatens
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 8 August 2007, various broadcast media outlets in the north-eastern department of Arauca found a pamphlet from the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) awaiting them at their offices. The pamphlet announced the initiation of an “armed stoppage” (“paro armado”) in the department, and warned […]
Journalist and his family receive death threat in Antioquia
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 27 July 2007, a threatening notice was sent to the home of journalist Sergio Mondragón, in Envigado municipality of Medellín, Antioquia. The authors of the letter threaten to kill the journalist, his romantic partner and his daughter. Mondragón had previously received threats in March. This latest threat was received days after a […]
Journalist brutally assaulted while covering political event in Barranquilla
(FLIP/IPYS/IFEX) – On 4 July 2007, journalist Javier Manjarrés, director of Emisoras Unidas radio station’s news programme “Actualidad”, was assaulted by supporters of the political party Polo Democrático Alternativo (PDA) at the end of a press conference held by the party’s president, Carlos Gaviria Díaz. The incident took place at 11:00 a.m. (local time) at […]
Paramilitary group member confesses to murder of Barrancabermeja journalist
(FLIP/IFEX) – A demobilised member of paramilitary group, Pablo Emilio Quintero Dodino, alias “Bedoya”, has confessed to the 6 April 2003 murder of journalist José Emeterio Rivas Rivas, which took place in the city of Barrancabermeja, Santander department, northern Colombia. He did so in recent testimony before a judge of the “Justice and Peace” Unit […]
CAPSULE REPORT: Threats, surveillance and restrictions undermine journalists trying to cover hearings on paramilitary crimes
(FLIP/IPYS/IFEX) – The following is an abridged 26 June 2007 special report by FLIP and IPYS: Special report: Journalists demand protective measures to allow them to safely cover the “Justice and Peace” process Journalists covering the criminal hearings near Medellín of the demobilised members of the paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) are working […]
Newspaper editor, his family face death threats following articles on drug-trafficker’s arrest
(FLIP/IFEX) – Rubén Darío Valencia, editor of the Cali-based daily newspaper “Q’hubo”, has been informed of an alleged plot against his life, and is concerned for his safety and for the safety of his family. The threats are apparently in response to reports published in the newspaper about the detention of Olmes Durán Ibargüen, alias […]