(FLIP/IFEX) – Three journalists of the programme “La Cariñosa” broadcast on Colombia’s national radio network (Radio Cadena Nacional, RCN) in the city of Ibagué, Tolima department, have been subjected to verbal and written attacks by the secretary of the Liberal Party for the department, Rubiel Espinosa Triana. In various letters sent by the political figure […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – Three journalists of the programme “La Cariñosa” broadcast on Colombia’s national radio network (Radio Cadena Nacional, RCN) in the city of Ibagué, Tolima department, have been subjected to verbal and written attacks by the secretary of the Liberal Party for the department, Rubiel Espinosa Triana.
In various letters sent by the political figure to the management of the RCN in Ibagué, he referred to journalists Rubén Darío Correa, Alexander Correa and César Valencia as “irresponsible, microphone terrorists” and as “having a very questionable friendship”.
The cause of these attacks was a report transmitted by these journalists on 4 March 2006, shortly before the parliamentary elections. In the report, they claimed Espinosa was involved in the granting of an irregular lease to a business in a well-known public plaza of the city. The report prompted an official investigation by the Attorney General’s office, the Public Prosecutor, and other official bodies into the way in which public spaces in Ibagué are being leased.
As well as sending the letters, Espinosa verbally attacked the director of the radio’s news programme, Darío, alluding to his private life and making accusations against his family. Darío informed FLIP that, on 6 March, he received a phone call from Espinosa, who told him: “if you want to be my enemy, keep reporting on the topic of the plaza”.
Espinosa informed FLIP that he believes the journalists have mistreated, slandered and offended him, and that they have mocked him over the issue of the leasing decision. He added that the journalists were also guilty of trying to blackmail him, of intent to commit a crime and criminal conspiracy, and that he had sufficient evidence to justify an investigation.
Espinosa further told FLIP that he has in his possession a report from the Communications Ministry that indicates the radio station in question is operating without a licence.
Alonso Botero, regional director for RCN in Ibagué, stated that he stood behind the journalists. Finally, he affirmed that the radio’s operating licence is in order.
In addition to these incidents, the mayor of the city, Rubén Darío Rodríguez Góngora, also of the Liberal Party, recently made similar accusations of local media. After he discovered an error by the Constitutional Court that allowed him to remain in office, he stated that everything had been “a plot by the journalists of ‘Ondas de Ibagué’ and ‘La Cariñosa’, who have dedicated themselves to my persecution in an attempt to remove me from the mayoralty.”
For more information (in Spanish only), see:
http://www.flip.org.co/Alertas/Amenazas/2006/ale06_06_06_2.htm
FLIP condemns the declarations by Espinosa and by Mayor Rodríguez. In a country like Colombia, to publicly denounce the media has the predictable and perverse effect of putting the accused at risk. Political figures should refrain from making statements that could be used by illegal armed groups as a pretext for attacking media outlets or journalists.
