Articles by Foundation for Press Freedom – FLIP
Newspaper director in Pereira threatened, over 15,000 copies of publication seized
(FLIP/IFEX) – After threatening to kill the director of tourist newspaper “Primera Plana” and mistreating its watchman, a group of over 20 men stole between 15,000 and 18,000 copies of the newspaper on 8 March 2006. The incident occurred in Pereira, the capital of the Risaralda department in the central-west region of the country. At […]
Manager and director of local newspaper in Chía receive death threat
(FLIP/IFEX) – The manager of the local monthly “El periódico de Chía” (“The Chía Newspaper”), Carlos Arango Duque, informed FLIP that he received a death threat on 12 February 2006. “If you keep speaking ill of the mayor, we will fill your mouth with flies”, threatened the unknown caller, who phoned Duque at his home, […]
“Vanguardia Liberal” newspaper denounces surveillance by state security agencies
(FLIP/IFEX) – In a 25 February 2006 editorial, “Vanguardia Liberal”, the highest-circulation newspaper of Bucaramanga, the capital of Santander department, decried the fact that the managerial staff of the paper, as well as their families, are being harassed by state security agents. The editorial states: “The worst thing about what the newspaper is now experiencing, […]
FLIP asks Vice President Santos for more government action to protect journalists working outside the capital
(FLIP/IFEX) – The following is a 9 February 2006 FLIP press release: In a meeting held today, 9 February 2006, with Vice President Francisco Santos, Criminal Police Chief General Óscar Naranjo and Interior and Justice Ministry human rights director Rafael Bustamante, among others, FLIP outlined the worrisome state of press freedom during January 2006 and […]
Journalist shot in Montería, Córdoba
(FLIP/IFEX) – Journalist Gustavo Rojas Gabalo is in serious condition after an attempt was made on his life on 4 February 2006, in Montería, Córdoba department, in northwest Colombia. As the journalist entered the city supermarket, a man approached him and shot him twice: once in the head and once in the shoulder. The assailant […]
Journalist in Florencia, Caquetá, receives death threats
(FLIP/IFEX) – After denouncing the threats to which she was being subjected, the journalist Olga Cecilia Vega fled Florencia, the capital of Caquetá department in southern Colombia, on 1 February 2006. In October 2005, she had published an interview in the U.S. newspaper “The New Herald”, with a leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of […]
“La Tarde” director forced by death threats to close weekly, flee Barrancabermeja; other Santander journalists threatened
(FLIP/IFEX) – After weeks of intense anxiety due to repeated death threats, Diro César González, director and owner of the Barrancabermeja weekly “La Tarde”, suspended its publication and fled the city, located in Santander, a northeastern department. On 17 January 2006, two men on a motorcycle arrived at González’s home asking for him. Tatiana Sánchez, […]
Radio journalist threatened in Pitalito, Huila
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 6 January 2006, radio journalist Antonio Colmenares received a death threat after reading a military press release on-air. The unidentified aggressor, having taken offence at the announcement, arrived at Colmenares’ place of work, the radio station “La Poderosa”, where he insulted the journalist and issued a death threat. The incident occurred in […]