About IFEX:

News by region:

IFEX Campaigns and Advocacy:

IFEX Email Products:

Opportunities and assistance:

IFEX Members and Allies Rally in Support of Press Freedom in Colombia

A recent international mission took place in conjunction with the “Media Support Strategies” conference organised by the Proyecto Antonio Nariño - a coalition of media support organisations led by the Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP) - along with International Media Support (IMS) and Reporters sans frontières (RSF), this past September 2006 in Bogota, Colombia. The conference included participation by various IFEX members, and emphasised the importance of developing national and international advocacy efforts. The Fundacion para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP), Instituto de Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS) and IMS were recently interviewed about their efforts, insights and strategies towards promoting a climate of press freedom in Colombia in the face of mounting obstacles.

Colombia has been described as a country that is hostile to journalists. FLIP and IPYS are leading a short-term campaign between now and December 2006 to expose violations against the media in Colombia, where journalists and media professionals have been harassed, threatened and even killed. FLIP and IPYS, supported by the IFEX Campaigns Programme, are campaigning for an end to violence against journalists and media workers and for increased government response to the problematic situation they face as paramilitaries exert influence during conflict negotiations. FLIP and IPYS are demanding that measures be taken towards the protection of journalists and the elimination of paramilitary influence.

According to FLIP, Colombia is living through a critical period – at this political moment the government and the paramilitary groups are negotiating demobilisation – a process which has raised many questions and contributing to a heightened climate of tension. The situation has been exacerbated by the infiltration of illegal paramilitaries into? the public administration and the use of intimidation and fear against media, especially in the regions. Self-censorship by journalists has become a regular practice, given the fear instilled by armed groups who threaten drastic repercussions against media who report news to their disliking.

“We would like this campaign to be a call to attention – an early warning – about what is happening and what could happen,” said Carlos Cortés, Executive Director of FLIP. FLIP and other groups in Colombia work together in a coalition of groups called “Proyecto Antonio Nariño” (PAN), an alliance for the promotion and defense of freedom of expression. They recently organised an international conference entitled “Towards New Strategies of Support to Journalism and Mass Media in Colombia”, which took place in Bogota from 25 to 26 September 2006. This conference was the planning ground for an initiative that will culminate in a national and international collaborative campaign around the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) annual World Press Freedom Day event on 3 May 2007 in Bogota.

International Media Support (IMS), along with Reporters sans frontiers (RSF), was a key organiser of the conference. IMS has been encouraging collaboration among international groups towards building collective strategies and fostering greater international solidarity. Numerous IFEX members were present at the Media Strategy conference in Bogota, including FLIP, Article 19, AMARC, IFJ, IPYS, RSF, and others who shared IMS's vision of working together to address the hostile media environment and major institutional barriers to free expression in Colombia.

“Colombia is passing through a period, where the actual number of journalists being persecuted and killed has decreased,” stated Finn Rasmussen of IMS. “Although this is very good news, it does not necessarily indicate a strong improvement of freedom of expression and conditions for media and journalists in Colombia. Self-censorship is increasing in the country. This was confirmed by testimonies from international organisations at our recent mission to Colombia in September 2006. Journalists use this as a means for self-protection against threats from power groups in society.”

Elaborating on the problem, Rasmussen stated that "parts of the demobilised paramilitary groups are now involved with organised crime, influencing and taking part at all levels of political decision-making. This situation raises a number of critical issues for journalists, and is a source of pressure and subsequently self-censorship.”

Trials against former leaders of the paramilitary groups – one of the conditions for demobilisation – are about to start, and will intensify pressure on journalists in their coverage of the process and past atrocities. Rasmussen explains that guerrilla groups also maintain pressure on journalists by continued persecution and harassment.

IMS – along with various international organisations – are working to bring the current developments in Colombia to the attention of the international community. As IMS emphasises, “When the international media organisations carry out this support by engaging in joint actions – as was the case with the recent mission to Colombia – it has a much stronger impact. Carrying out an international mission is also an opportunity to meet government representatives, and build pressure for political action. Bringing the international community into collaboration with national organisations and media actors is a strong combination for developing specific projects, which can attend to the complex needs of the media sector in a country like Colombia.”

The IFEX Campaigns Programme aims to foster collaboration among members. In the short term, FLIP will be working with IPYS on a letter-writing and awareness-raising campaign between now and December. “The support from IFEX has been crucial since it has allowed the world to understand the conflict in Colombia and its impact on the media. It has also allowed us to spread the word about what we are doing about it,” said Cortés. FLIP also underlines the necessity for international accompaniment and support during this difficult moment. “Our message to the international community is clear - we need to work together,” said Cortés.

FLIP and IPYS work to get their message out not only to international actors but also those at home. They have called on the government to increase protection of journalists and curb the influence of the paramilitaries that they obtain through violence and intimidation.

IPYS Colombian correspondent Humberto Coronel Noguera stated that, “The Protection of Journalists Programme by the Ministry of the Interior and Justice has shown some results. A few journalists and their families have been protected, but the results could be better. The Interior Ministry should function with greater effectiveness, especially in urgent situations. There is also a need for increased safety for journalists traveling inside the country and for financial support,” he said. “Colombia is a country where many activities are being carried out, not only to save the lives of journalists but also to strive for an independent media.”

Veteran Colombian journalist Hollman Morris is being recognised for his tireless work to cover all sides of the armed conflict in Colombia, despite numerous threats and smear campaigns. On 1 November 2006, he will be awarded one of this year's International Press Freedom Awards by Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) at its annual benefit gala in Toronto, Canada. Subsequent events are planned at the CJFE office and around the city to raise awareness about the situation facing media and to promote solidarity and pressure on the Colombian government to take action against impunity and paramilitary pressure on the media.

Colombian photojournalist Jesús Abad Colorado is also being honoured with one of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 2006 International Press Freedom Awards because of his work exposing human rights violations, which have resulted in death threats. CPJ says, Abad “has displayed great bravery and determination in reporting from the front line.”

For a statement by international organisations attending the “Strategies for Media Support” in Bogota, please see: http://www.ifex.org/download/en/Colombia_Statement.doc

---

This article was prepared by Katie Meyer and Sheila Gruner of the IFEX Clearing House.