10feb10

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Threatened journalists denounce "state of terror" in Colombia and blame Uribe

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Hollman Morris and Claudia Julieta Duque presented evidence of threats, harassment and surveillance against them and their families and accused President Álvaro Uribe of being responsible --"by action and omission"-- for political persecution, EFE reports (in Spanish).

The journalists blame Colombia's intelligence service, the Administrative Security Department (DAS), which by law operates under the direction of the president. DAS has been accused of committing espionage against political opponents, journalists, and human rights defenders. (Colombia's Foundation for Press Freedom has described illegal wiretaps as the main obstacle to journalistic work in Colombia.)

In the case of Morris, whose TV program Contravía presents a critical view of Colombia's armed conflicts, the evidence points to a campaign launched by DAS to discredit him at the international level. The intelligence service also mounted a persecution apparatus against Duque.

In an opinion column in El Espectador newspaper, Cecilia Orozco criticizes the passivity and silence of prosecutors about the reporters' accusations and warns, "It is not possible to continue to ignore the plight of press freedom in this country."

Morris and Duque released their evidence at a press conference on Tuesday, which is designated "Day of the Journalist in Colombia." This year, the day was marked also by recent news that Cambio magazine has dismissed its top two editors and will be converted from a weekly specializing in investigative reporting to a monthly general-interest magazine. Many Colombians fear politics motivated Cambio's decision. In a radio interview, Uribe denied exerting pressure on journalists or editors, the Associated Press reports.

Also this week, the International Federation of Journalists reports that the number of attacks against Colombian journalists last year--167, including six assassinations--increased by more than one third from the two previous years.

[Source: Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, University of Texas At Austin, 10Feb10]

Informes sobre libertad de Prensa en Colombia

This document has been published on 15Feb10 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.