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Alert

Journalist assassinated; RSF asks that a program to protect journalists who are threatened be set up

(RSF/IFEX) - In a letter to Colombian President Andrés Pastrana, RSF
expresses its indignation over the assassination of Jaime Garzon and urges
him to use his influence to ensure that the investigation identifies those
responsible for the attack. RSF further asks that the investigation be
entrusted to the sub-unit that investigates journalists' homicides, namely
the sub-unit of the National Human Rights department of the office of the
Attorney General. Finally, RSF reminds the president of his commitment
announced on 5 May 1999 to create a program to protect journalists who are
threatened.




On 13 August, Garzon, a journalist and humourist with the Radionet radio
station and with channel Caracol Television, was shot by two men on a
motorcycle as he was heading towards the radio station. The two men managed
to flee. A man, speaking on behalf of the Colombian United Self Defense
groups (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, (AUC), claimed responsibility for
the assassination in a telephone call. Soon afterwards, in a fax sent to the
Radionet studio, the AUC denied having played any role in the attack.
Nevertheless, according to Garzon's colleagues, Garzon had been threatened
by Carlos Castaño, head of the AUC, in the last few days. The journalist was
known for his intervention in the peace negotiations, having attempted to
obtain the release of those who were kidnapped by guerrilla groups and to
have the authorities start a dialogue with the National Liberation Army
(Ejército de Liberacion Nacional, ELN).

RSF is very concerned over this new attack against a journalist in Colombia,
which it says brings to fifty-two the number of journalists who have been
killed in the country in the last ten years. In 1998, four journalists were
assassinated because their investigations implicated drug traffickers, armed
groups or the local authorities. RSF has already recorded seven cases of
threats received by journalists in 1999 because of their work. One of these
is Jorge Rivera Sena, of the "El Universal" newspaper, who was kidnapped for
ten days, possibly by a paramilitary group (see IFEX alert of 23 June 1999).

According to RSF, with each incident it becomes more apparent that the
parties mainly responsible for the violence are the Colombian Revolutionary
Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC), the ELN
and the AUC, as they have declared a war without mercy. These organisations
do not make exceptions for the press. Since 1995, paramilitary groups and
the guerrillas have killed three journalists, accusing them of supporting
the "opposing side." In 1997 and 1999, first the FARC and then the ELN
stated that journalists who are suspected of supporting the army or
paramilitary groups are considered "military targets." In 1998, two
journalists were forced into exile because they were threatened: Alfredo
Molano, contibutor to the daily "El Espectador", who was considered a
"paraguerrilla" by Castaño; and Luis Gonzalo ("Richard") Vélez, who was
granted political asylum by the United States after he was attacked. In
1996, Vélez filmed a protest march by cocaine growers which was suppressed
by the army. He was subsequently attacked and seriously injured by an
unknown assailant on 6 October 1997.