Articles by Foundation for Press Freedom – FLIP
Suspicious broadcast failures during congressional debate on paramilitary-linked politicians
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 18 October 2006, in Sucre and Córdoba departments in northern Colombia, the broadcasting signal of Canal Institucional television channel was interrupted, just as a debate in the Congress about Congress members linked to paramilitary groups was beginning. The incidents occurred when the Polo Democrático – a centre-left party – was about to […]
Death threats and shooting force television journalist to leave Cartago; parcel-bomb injures two at radio station in same city
(FLIP/IFEX) – Otoniel Sánchez, a journalist with local television station CNC in Cartago, a city in Valle del Cauca department, was obliged to leave the region after unidentified assailants fired upon his residence on 19 October 2006. Sánchez told FLIP he began receiving telephoned death threats after doing a report on misuse of the municipality’s […]
Recent illegal detention of indigenous radio journalists not unusual, says community leader
(FLIP/IFEX) – Two journalists with the indigenous radio station Nasa Yuwe Estéreo, Rubiel Lis Velasco and Griseldino Yafué Guetoto, were detained illegally by members of the intelligence police (Seccional de Inteligencia Judicial Investigativa de la Policía Nacional, SIJÍN) in the municipality of Caldono, located in the department of Caucas in Colombia’s southwest. On 19 September […]
Unidentified individuals impede the distribution of newspaper issue reporting on corrupt politicians
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 3 October 2006, vendors of the newspaper “El Meridiano de Sucre”, the main daily of the northern department of Sucre, were pressured by unidentified individuals to sell them all copies of an edition of the newspaper being sold in the departmental capital, Sincelejo. According to the newspaper’s chief editor Elsa Peniche, the […]
Photojournalist struck at labour demonstration, national union leader condemns assault
(FLIP/IFEX) – Colprensa news agency photojournalist Raúl Arboleda was assaulted by a demonstrator participating in the marches organised by the trade union centrals in Bogotá on 26 September 2006. The incident occurred at 4:00 p.m. (local time) when the demonstrators were beginning their walk from the Plaza de Toros square to Bolívar Plaza in downtown […]
Military official prohibits screening of documentary film
(FLIP/IFEX) – A few hours before the debut screening of a documentary film on the massacre of Mapiripán, a colonel of the army demanded the film’s content be altered. When the filmmakers refused, the military official prohibited its screening. It was to be show as part of the event “Week for Peace”, organised by various […]
Congressman’s stigmatising accusations against journalists put them at risk, says FLIP
(FLIP/IFEX) – In a speech to Congress, Congressman Julio Gallardo Archbold stated that “there are some journalists who are more akin to moral assassins and, indeed, who can be more dangerous than those gentlemen who go around with chainsaws” (an allusion to the perpetrators of massacres in Colombia). These statements were made in response to […]
Journalist Jaime Garzón’s murder still unpunished seven years later
(FLIP/IFEX) – The following is a 14 August 2006 FLIP press release: Jaime Garzón’s murder still unpunished seven years later Seven years after the 13 August 1999 murder of journalist and humourist Jaime Garzón in Bogotá, not one person is being detained for the crime. The only person found guilty of it was paramilitary commander […]