Pamphlet contains threats against journalists, intellectuals

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is urging the attorney general to investigate the provenance of a pamphlet containing threats against journalists and other intellectuals that started circulating in the streets of Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín earlier this month. **For background on the Molano case see IFEX alerts of 26 July and 23 June 1999; for background on […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is urging the attorney general to investigate the
provenance of a pamphlet containing threats against journalists and other
intellectuals that started circulating in the streets of Bogotá, Cali, and
Medellín earlier this month.

**For background on the Molano case see IFEX alerts of 26 July and 23 June
1999; for background on Garzon’s murder see IFEX alerts of 16 August and 13
August 1999**

The pamphlet, signed “Colombian Rebel Army (ERC),” accuses twenty-one
intellectuals, among them three journalists, of being enemies of Colombia’s
peace process. The pamphlet reads: “These sinister figures feed the war
between Colombians, foment hatred and class struggle, live off the war …
They will pay for the destruction of the peace process.”

The three journalists mentioned by name are: Alfredo Molano, a columnist for
the Bogotá-based daily “El Espectador” who had to flee the country earlier
this year after his life was threatened by Carlos Castaño, leader of the
right-wing paramilitary United Self Defense Forces (AUC); Patricia Lara, the
former owner of the weekly “Cambio” who now writes occasionally for the
Bogotá-based daily “El Tiempo”; and Arturo Alape, biographer of
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC) leader Manuel Marulanda, and a columnist for “El Espectador”.

The 13 August 1999 murder of journalist Jaime Garzon is the most recent
illustration of how seriously threats against journalists in Colombia must
be taken.

Recommended Action

Alfonso Gomez Méndez

Attorney General

Bogotá, Colombia

Fax: +571 211 6676