31 Aug 11 | Index Index, minipost
Following the publication of stories in the Washington Post earlier this month that allege former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe Vélez may have been involved in illegal actions using the national intelligence service with the help of the US, the former leader accused the articles’ writers of being sympathisers of terrorism and accomplices of leftist guerrillas. The journalists in question are Juan Forero, the Washington Post’s Andean region correspondent, and Claudia Julieta Duque, a reporter who works in Colombia.
07 Jun 11 | Index Index, minipost
Two men kidnapped Channel 22 director Mario Esteban López last night (6 June), tied a rope around his neck and forced him to drive to a secluded area where they poured gasoline on him. Fortunately the abductors’ matches also got covered in petrol and failed to light, a police car then drove by, frightening the men away. López claims he was targeted for his reports on drug trafficking.
27 Apr 11 | Americas, Mexico
Violence against journalists in Colombia has escalated recently, with paramilitary groups issuing threats against reporters all over the country. The threats are worrisome for a country, where drug traffickers, corrupt politicians, leftist guerrillas and paramilitary groups killed 43 journalists since 1992. For that reason, the Colombian Federation for Journalists, FELCOPER, will hold a silent march on 3 May to mark International Press Freedom Day.
The paramilitary group, Grupo Bloque Capital de las Águilas Negras, has become the worst press freedom offender. It recently issued threats against 28 reporters from the capital city of Bogota and other provincial towns.
Worse yet, is the fact that the Colombian Attorney General´s office just announced that it was shelving investigations on murders of journalists that occurred in the 1990s. One case is that of two journalists from El Universal, Julio Daniel Chaparro, 29, and Jorge Torres, 39. The two were killed by unknown men while reporting on the anniversary of a human rights massacre in the town of Segovia, Medellin. That massacre was completed by paramilitaries in 1988, but Chaparro and Torres were killed by guerrillas who later died in combat themselves.
22 Feb 11 | Index Index, minipost
Journalists and human rights groups in Colombia have received alarming threats from Aguilas Negras, an extreme right wing paramilitary group. The groups and individuals received a document signed by the “Central Command of the Black Eagles” warning them that their lives are in danger. Aguilas Negras has targeted journalists in the past: one report accused the group of imposing a “reign of terror, killing journalists or forcing them to censor themselves or flee the country”.
