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| Plot to kill Colombian journalists uncovered | Plot to kill Colombian journalists uncovered |
| (4 months later) | |
| Authorities in Colombia have uncovered a plot to kill a freelance correspondent and a magazine columnist just two weeks after another high-profile investigative reporter narrowly escaped a mafia-style hit, while eight other journalists were threatened with death if they continued with their investigations. | Authorities in Colombia have uncovered a plot to kill a freelance correspondent and a magazine columnist just two weeks after another high-profile investigative reporter narrowly escaped a mafia-style hit, while eight other journalists were threatened with death if they continued with their investigations. |
| Security in Colombia has improved dramatically over the past decade, but the incidents show that digging too deeply into corruption or human rights abuses can still be extremely dangerous for journalists. | Security in Colombia has improved dramatically over the past decade, but the incidents show that digging too deeply into corruption or human rights abuses can still be extremely dangerous for journalists. |
| "It is clear that there are actors with the power of violent intimidation against journalists," said Andrés Morales, president of the Colombian Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP). | "It is clear that there are actors with the power of violent intimidation against journalists," said Andrés Morales, president of the Colombian Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP). |
| Officials revealed on Tuesday that a hit man had been hired to kill freelance investigative journalist Gonzalo Guillén, who has written for the Miami-based Spanish language newspaper El Nuevo Herald, as well as columnist León Valencia and political analyst Ariel Ávila. Valencia said the plot may be related to an investigation that he and Ávila carried out which revealed links between politicians and criminal groups, particularly on the country's Caribbean coast. Guillén was reportedly preparing a documentary on the same subject. | Officials revealed on Tuesday that a hit man had been hired to kill freelance investigative journalist Gonzalo Guillén, who has written for the Miami-based Spanish language newspaper El Nuevo Herald, as well as columnist León Valencia and political analyst Ariel Ávila. Valencia said the plot may be related to an investigation that he and Ávila carried out which revealed links between politicians and criminal groups, particularly on the country's Caribbean coast. Guillén was reportedly preparing a documentary on the same subject. |
| On 1 May, gunmen opened fire on the car of Ricardo Calderón, the chief investigative journalist for the newsweekly Semana, who was conducting interviews for a story about how soldiers convicted of serious human rights abuses and serving time at a military base were allowed special privileges that included shopping trips to Bogotá. Calderón escaped the attack unharmed. | On 1 May, gunmen opened fire on the car of Ricardo Calderón, the chief investigative journalist for the newsweekly Semana, who was conducting interviews for a story about how soldiers convicted of serious human rights abuses and serving time at a military base were allowed special privileges that included shopping trips to Bogotá. Calderón escaped the attack unharmed. |
| "This is very alarming because we had not seen an assassination attempt against such a high-profile journalist in a long time," said Morales. | "This is very alarming because we had not seen an assassination attempt against such a high-profile journalist in a long time," said Morales. |
| Four days later, eight reporters in the northern city of Valledupar who were reporting on the restitution of land to those dispossessed by Colombia's decades-long internal conflict were given 24 hours to leave the city. "If you continue to stick your noses in cases of land restitution and victims, you will be next," said the written threat issued after a person who had been filing land claims was killed. The journalists did not leave town; instead, they have received government protection. | Four days later, eight reporters in the northern city of Valledupar who were reporting on the restitution of land to those dispossessed by Colombia's decades-long internal conflict were given 24 hours to leave the city. "If you continue to stick your noses in cases of land restitution and victims, you will be next," said the written threat issued after a person who had been filing land claims was killed. The journalists did not leave town; instead, they have received government protection. |
| At least 90 journalists in the country are under some sort of protective measures by the government and 34 of them are forced to carry out their interviews and investigation protected by armed bodyguards, according to the FLIP. Threats generally target provincial journalists and can come from anyone who feels affected by their reports, including corrupt politicians, drug mafias and leftist guerrillas. | At least 90 journalists in the country are under some sort of protective measures by the government and 34 of them are forced to carry out their interviews and investigation protected by armed bodyguards, according to the FLIP. Threats generally target provincial journalists and can come from anyone who feels affected by their reports, including corrupt politicians, drug mafias and leftist guerrillas. |
| María Teresa Ronderos, a veteran journalist and director of Verdadabierta.com, an investigative website, said the boldness of the attacks was an ominous sign. "The bolder the attacks against the press, the more afraid we Colombians should be," she wrote in a column in the El Espectador newspaper. "Attacking journalists is the first sign of just how sure and powerful violent groups feel." | María Teresa Ronderos, a veteran journalist and director of Verdadabierta.com, an investigative website, said the boldness of the attacks was an ominous sign. "The bolder the attacks against the press, the more afraid we Colombians should be," she wrote in a column in the El Espectador newspaper. "Attacking journalists is the first sign of just how sure and powerful violent groups feel." |
| President Juan Manuel Santos, a former journalist, ordered investigators to uncover the people behind the attacks and threats. "We're totally committed to getting to the very bottom of the problems that undermine the fundamental right to be well-informed," he said. During the previous government of Álvaro Uribe, the now defunct domestic intelligence agency spied on journalists considered critical of the government. | President Juan Manuel Santos, a former journalist, ordered investigators to uncover the people behind the attacks and threats. "We're totally committed to getting to the very bottom of the problems that undermine the fundamental right to be well-informed," he said. During the previous government of Álvaro Uribe, the now defunct domestic intelligence agency spied on journalists considered critical of the government. |
| Santos, who was defence minister at the time of the spy scandal, said his government welcomed "responsible" criticism. "Criticism … is needed, it's important," he said. | Santos, who was defence minister at the time of the spy scandal, said his government welcomed "responsible" criticism. "Criticism … is needed, it's important," he said. |
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