(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/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, is that a state agency – one that should be cracking down on criminals and struggling to improve public security in the country – is instead secretively and maliciously threatening the daily life of our managers, with motives that are less than desirable.”)
In its conclusion, the editorial observes that the campaign of surveillance was apparently hatched in the regional section of the security agency, and asserts that “‘Vanguardia Liberal’ and its directors are certain that this has happened without the highest national authorities in Bogotá even imagining what dark shadows are being cast upon our newspaper at the regional level.”
Sebastián Hiller, director of “Vanguardia Liberal”, stated in an interview on “La W radio” that, from various sources, they had become aware of the actions being taken against the newspaper’s managers. “The moment we were able to confirm the veracity of these reports, we decided to publish the editorial,” he added.
The newspaper has maintained a strongly critical stance regarding government corruption, especially at the city and the departmental level.
For his part, Andrés Peñate, director of the Administrative Security Department (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad, DAS), in an interview with “La W radio” expressed surprise at Hiller’s comments. Peñate stated: “in recent months, the sectional director of the DAS in Santander, José Alexis Mahecha, met with the paper’s owner, who mentioned nothing about any kind of threat.”
In the same interview, Peñate asserted that it was not the business of DAS nor of the government to obstruct the press, adding: “any member of the Santander section or any other section of the DAS who has any part in accosting or intimidating any journalist from the “Vanguardia” or from any other media outlet will be punished strongly to set an example.”
