3 January 2007

Alert

Key witness retracts testimony against jailed Telesur television network journalist


Incident details

Freddy Muñoz ( Fredy Muñoz )

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(RSF/IFEX) - A former member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) guerrilla group who is serving a 12-year prison sentence has retracted the statement he made implicating journalist Freddy Muñoz, who has been held since 19 November 2006 on charges of "rebellion and terrorism." The prosecution witness finally said he did not know Muñoz.

The Colombia correspondent of the pan-Latin American television network Telesur, Muñoz was arrested at the Bogotá airport on his return from Caracas, where Telesur has its headquarters. The Colombian authorities accused him of taking part in a FARC bombing in 2002.

The charges were based on vague and questionable claims made by three former guerrilla fighters, one of whom is the person who has now retracted his testimony. In addition, a forensic report has established that Muñoz's scars were not caused by the mishandling of explosives.

RSF reiterates its call for Muñoz's release in view of the fact that the charges are not supported by any hard evidence.



Source:

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
47, rue Vivienne
75002 Paris
France
rsf (@) rsf.org
Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51
@rsf_rwb
 

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More on this case

Telesur correspondent, facing new arrest warrant and paramilitary death threats, goes into hiding 19 February 2007 Telesur television reporter released from prison, still under investigation for "terrorism" 11 January 2007 Jailed Telesur journalist charged with "rebellion and terrorism" may be victim of mistaken identity 19 December 2006 Detention of Telesur television network correspondent extended; RSF joins international call for his release 7 December 2006 Journalists rally to question their colleague's detention 29 November 2006 Television correspondent wrongly detained, charged with "rebellion and terrorism" 21 November 2006

Colombia

FLIP condemns attack against journalist and former minister Fernando Londoño 16 May 2012 French journalist's whereabouts unknown 1 May 2012 Journalists flee homes after receiving threats 24 April 2012 Journalist flees after FARC threats 24 April 2012 Journalist's murderer gets 21 years in jail, but motive is still unknown 4 April 2012 See all alerts: Colombia


 
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