(FLIP/IFEX) – On 3 October 2006, vendors of the newspaper “El Meridiano de Sucre”, the main daily of the northern department of Sucre, were pressured by unidentified individuals to sell them all copies of an edition of the newspaper being sold in the departmental capital, Sincelejo. According to the newspaper’s chief editor Elsa Peniche, the […]
(FLIP/IFEX) – On 3 October 2006, vendors of the newspaper “El Meridiano de Sucre”, the main daily of the northern department of Sucre, were pressured by unidentified individuals to sell them all copies of an edition of the newspaper being sold in the departmental capital, Sincelejo.
According to the newspaper’s chief editor Elsa Peniche, the individuals went about on a motorcycle and offered to pay vendors above the cover price. One vendor who objected was threatened with a gun and forced to comply.
The front page of the issue carried a report on the arrest of various members of the departmental legislature, who were named in a list found on a computer belonging to the paramilitary leader “Jorge 40”. The issue also discussed other politicians implicated in the case. The computer had been confiscated six months before by authorities, following the detention of an associate of the well-known paramilitary leader. Since then, the media have reported on the information found on the computer, relating mainly to the connection between members of the paramilitary group and politicians, as well as to the killings conducted by the group after the ceasefire declared as part of the peace process with the government.
Lucy Pinilla, head of distribution for the newspaper, told FLIP that about 60 percent of all copies of the issue were bought up in Sincelejo by these unidentified individuals. The other 40 percent were delivered directly to subscribers or sold in other municipalities of the department.
Pinilla noted that distribution of the newspaper was restricted by similar means in Corozal, a municipality neighbouring Sincelejo. Elsewhere in the department, the newspaper was distributed without interference.
Sucre Police Chief Jorge Andrés Rodríguez told FLIP that the police would be taking security measures to protect the offices of “El Meridiano de Sucre” and its main sales outlets. He also indicated that investigations were underway to identify those responsible for the action.
FLIP is concerned about this method of restricting press freedom. It is not the first time that such actions have been taken in Sincelejo. In early 2006, a departmental official purchased most copies of an issue of the newspaper “El Universal” because of an article it carried. Cases such as this inhibit investigative reporting and can lead to journalists practicing self-censorship.
