16 August 1999
Alert
CPJ expresses its sorrow over journalist's murder
Incident details
Jaime Garzón journalist(s)(CPJ/IFEX) - CPJ has expressed its deep sorrow over the 13 August 1999
cold-blooded murder of radio journalist Jaime Garzon, one of Colombia's most
popular political humorists. CPJ urged President Andrés Pastrana Arango to
ensure a thorough investigation into this killing is carried out.
**Updates IFEX alert of 13 August 1999**
At 6 a.m. (local time) on 13 August, as Garzon, 36, was driving his car to
the Bogotá radio station Radionet where he was a morning host, two men on a
motorcycle intercepted him and shot him in the head. Garzon's biting satire
and political parodies were broadcast on Radionet and a Caracol network
television news program.
Garzon has been frequently threatened by Carlos Castaño, the leader of the
United Self Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a right-wing paramilitary
organization that is fighting against leftist guerrillas. Garzon's
colleagues have informed CPJ that the journalist had planned a meeting with
Castaño for 14 August.
Many journalists in Colombia believe that Castaño ordered the murder, either
because of Garzon's journalistic work, or because of his contact with the
guerrillas. Garzon served on a commission that was mediating between the
National Liberation Army (ELN) and the government, and regularly negotiated
for the release of victims of guerrilla kidnappings.
The AUC has put out a press release denying any responsibility in the
murder.
CPJ continues to investigate to determine whether Garzon was murdered
because of his work as a journalist.
In addition, CPJ expressed its grave alarm at a number of other threats made
against journalists by Castaño and members of the AUC.
Earlier this year, Alfredo Molano, a columnist for the Bogotá-based daily
"El Espectador", went into exile in Spain because of such threats. After
Molano published a story in July 1998 condemning the AUC, he received a
series of threatening letters from Castaño. In a letter dated 23 December
1998, Castaño noted "we have begun to dismantle the paraguerrilla in
Colombia, which does more damage to the country than our declared enemies."
In a 30 December fax sent to
"El Espectador"'s editor Rodrigo Pardo, Castaño called Molano an enemy of
the nation (see IFEX alert of 23 June 1999).
In another case in which AUC involvement is suspected, Carlos Pulgarín, the
Montería correspondent for the Bogotá-based daily "El Tiempo", found death
threats on his answering machine on 28 June. The messages accused him of
being a spokesman for the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas
Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC). In recent articles, Pulgarín had
revealed that the AUC had downplayed losses suffered in battles with the
guerrillas (see IFEX alert of 26 July 1999).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
investigation to a successful conclusion, so that the authors of this crime
will be duly punished
the
country's most creative voices
Colombia before another critical voice is lost
Appeals To
His Excellency Andrés Pastrana Arango
President of the Republic of Colombia
Casa de Narino
Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia
Fax: +571 286 7434 / 286 7937 / 284 2186
E-mail: pastrana@presidencia.gov.co
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
Source:
Committee to Protect Journalists
330 7th Ave., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10001
USA
info (@) cpj.org
Phone: +1 212 465 1004
Fax: +1 212 465 9568
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