Articles by Foundation for Press Freedom – FLIP
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, FLIP presents its analysis of the state of press freedom, January-April 2006
(FLIP/IFEX) – The following is a FLIP press release: Analysis of Freedom of the Press in Colombia, January-April 2006 Summary: 42 press freedom violations in the first four months of 2006. Bucaramanga, Barrancabermeja and Bogotá are the cities with the highest incidence of violations. The electoral period and the coverage of topics related to the […]
Senate commission shelves bill that would have broadened definition of criminal defamation offences by journalists, media
(FLIP/IFEX) – The following is a 20 April 2006 FLIP press release: Bill increasing penalties for insult and calumny offences shelved The Senate’s First Commission has shelved the legislative bill that would have broadened the definition of insult and defamation offences committed by journalists and media outlet directors. This means that the bill, originally presented […]
FLIP condemns paramilitary video accusing journalist, priest, former mayor and presidential candidate of being guerrilla group “spokespersons”
(FLIP/IFEX) – Journalist Hollman Morris, director of the television programme “Contravía”, has complained to FLIP about the circulation of a video from an organization calling itself the “Social Front for Peace” (“Frente Social por la Paz”, FSP), accusing him of being an international spokesman for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de […]
Demobilised paramilitary involved in murder of Montería journalist; authorities capture three suspects, a fourth still at large
(FLIP/IFEX) – The Prosecutor General’s Office, with support from the national police’s Criminal Intelligence Investigations Unit (Seccional de Inteligencia Judicial Investigativa de la Policía Nacional, SIJÍN) in Córdoba, has captured three of the alleged murderers of journalist Gustavo Rojas Gabalo. According the Córdoba police commander, Colonel Jaime Orlando Velasco, two of them are demobilized members […]
Senator urges his supporters to boycott regional newspaper
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 17 March 2006, during statements made to two radio stations in Ibagué, Tolima department, recently re-elected Senator Humberto Gómez Gallo encouraged his supporters to “boycott” “El Nuevo Día” newspaper, published in the same city. “Tolimans should start a boycott against ‘El Nuevo Día’, we shouldn’t buy this newspaper, nor advertise in it […]
Journalist dies of injuries from February murder attempt in Montería
(FLIP/IFEX) – After a lengthy struggle to survive injuries inflicted during a 4 February 2006 attempt on his life in Montería, capital of Córdoba department, journalist Gustavo Rojas Gabalo died on 20 March at the Salucoop clinic in Medellín, capital of the neighbouring department of Antioquia. “El Gaba”, as he was known regionally, had been […]
Photojournalist assaulted by Cúcuta’s transportation secretary, his photos destroyed
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 8 March 2006, “La Opinión” newspaper photojournalist Carlos Humberto Patiño was attacked by the transportation secretary for the city of Cúcuta, Cesar Rojas Ayala, and by other participants at what was apparently a political meeting. The incident took place in the Business Club (Club del Comercio) where Patiño had been sent to […]
Three Barrancabermeja-based media workers subject to threats, sister of one temporarily abducted
(FLIP/IFEX) – Three new instances of violation of freedom of the press occurred in Barrancabermeja during the second week of March 2006. Two journalists and a newspaper lay-out artist join the list of those recently subjected to such violations in Santander Department. Journalist Edison Núñez, of the local Barrancabermeja television station Enlace 10, informed FLIP […]