Three radio journalists threatened in Colombia
Three radio journalists threatened in Colombia
Bogotá, January 14, 2014--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Colombian authorities to ensure the safety of three radio journalists in the southern state of Guaviare who have received death threats in response to their coverage of an upcoming recall vote that could remove the local governor from office.
Erika Londoño, Gustavo Chicangana, and Jorge Ramírez work for Caracol Radio Guaviare, one of five stations in the state capital of San José del Guaviare, and have covered the February 2 recall vote that will determine whether Governor José Octaviano Rivera will remain in office, Londoño, the station's director, told CPJ.
A series of threatening text messages was sent to Londoño's mobile phone on December 20 and January 8, according to the journalist and news reports. Londoño told CPJ that the messages warned the three journalists to stop reporting and airing listener comments related to the recall vote. One of the text messages said: "If you continue talking about the recall vote, we are going to blow up you, the radio station, as well as your messengers Chica and Ramírez."
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Colombia saw a resurgence in violence and intimidation against journalists in 2013, according to CPJ research. One journalist and one media support worker were murdered in direct retaliation for their work.
http://www.cpj.org/2014/01/three-radio-journalists-threatened-in-colombia.php