(FLIP/IFEX) – On 9 January 2007, after almost two months’ detention, journalist Freddy Muñoz Altamiranda, of the Venezuela-based television channel Telesur, was released following the prosecutor general’s revocation of a security order against him. Muñoz, was taken into custody on 19 November 2006, accused of “rebellion” and “terrorism”. After reviewing the arrest warrant against Muñoz […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 9 January 2007, after almost two months’ detention, journalist Freddy Muñoz Altamiranda, of the Venezuela-based television channel Telesur, was released following the prosecutor general’s revocation of a security order against him. Muñoz, was taken into custody on 19 November 2006, accused of “rebellion” and “terrorism”.
After reviewing the arrest warrant against Muñoz issued by the Third Special Prosecutor’s Office of Cartegena, the prosecutor general decided that the evidence against the journalist was insufficient to justify his detention.
According to local media, the main witnesses in the trial were three former guerrillas, currently imprisoned, of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC). One of these stated that he had stayed in Muñoz’s Barranquilla home. They also testified that Muñoz was an explosives expert, that he met various times with FARC officials, and that he went by the alias “Jorge Eliécer”.
The case against the journalist began to falter when at least one of the witnesses complained of being pressured and threatened into testifying against the journalist; some of that witness’s testimony was withdrawn altogether. There were also contradictions among the dates given for Muñoz’s supposed terrorist activities; in some cases, the individuals he was supposedly collaborating with were in prison on the dates of his alleged interaction with them. Such inconsistencies in evidence led to the decision to free the journalist.
Muñoz’s lawyer, Tito Augusto Gaitán, informed FLIP that the journalist is in good health but that he is worried for his own safety and that of his family. Both Muñoz and the president of Telesur, Andrés Izarra, announced their concerns for his safety on a local radio programme.
Despite the revocation of the security order against Muñoz, the proceedings against the journalist continue, which would interfere with his ability to leave the country should he feel the need due to his unsafe situation.
Muñoz was taken into custody on 19 November 2006 in Bogotá’s El Dorado international airport upon his return from a training session in Venezuela. On 20 November, he was transferred to Barranquilla where the initial review of his case was completed and the decision was made to extend his detention. Later, Muñoz was moved to the El Bosque prison in Barranquilla, where he was held until his 9 January release.
Since September 2005, Muñoz has worked for the Venezuela-based Telesur as their Colombian correspondent. He has covered the question of public order and human rights.
FLIP urgently requests of the Colombian authorities that they take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of the journalist and his family. It is concerning that the legal proceedings against Muñoz have stigmatised him as a collaborator with illegal armed groups, putting him at great risk. FLIP will continue to follow his case to ensure that his right to due process is respected.
