Colombia

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COLOMBIA Journalists Francisco Santos of EI Tiempo and Maruja Pachon, who had been kidnapped by drug traffickers, were freed after eight months of captivity in which they were kept chained to a bed and unable to see daylight. No journalists are currently still being held by kidnappers. On May 4, a group of journalists was kidnapped by guerrillas, but they were released several days later. However, murder of and threats continue against journalists. On April 24, reporter Julio Daniel Chaparro and photographer Jorge Torres Navas, both of El Espectador, were murdered in Segovia in the department of Antioquia. May 10, the military intelligence service (DIJIN) reported its investigations indicated the FARC guerrilla group was responsible. On May 20, journalists and Liberal Party activists Jose Libardo Mendez and Carlos Julio Rodriguez were murdered by hired assassins on a motorcycle. Rodriguez was a commentator for radio station Voz de la Selva, an affiliate of the Caracol broadcast network. The wife of Libardo Mendez, Judith Aristizabal, also a Voz de la Selva commentator, was injured in the incident, in Florencia, Caqueta department. On August 3, journalist Hernan Blanco of El Espacio newspaper was killed by an unidentified assailant in southeast Bogota. The reason for his death are unknown. On August 16, journalist Hernando Hernandez was murdered in Aracua, Caldas department. It is not known who carried out the attack or why. On August 25, Juan Suarez Florez, correspondent of the Bogota daily El Tiempo in Berlin, Germany, was killed by common criminals near Bogota during a visit to Colombia. On September 13, Voz de Ariari radio commentator Tarsenio Hoyos was amurdered near his radio station in the city of Villavicencio, department of Meta. There were no further details of the incident. On September 16, an employee of the El Tiempo circulation department in Cali, Rogelio Grajales, was killed by an unknown assailant. The motive appeared to have been robbery. On September 26, journalist and Liberal congressional candidate Rodrigo Ahumada was shot in Santa Marta and died 12 days later. Local authorities blamed the FARC guerrilla group. On October 4, sports commentator Javier Ramos Acevedo was shot and killed in Tulua, Valle department. He was the brother of politician Jairo Ramos, a columnist for several provincial newspapers. These murders mean that on average now two journalists a month are being killed. There is still undeniable freedom of press in Colombia and official respect for independent criticism by the media. But the government has not been able to provide meaningful guarantees for journalists to practice their profession in an atmosphere free of deaths and threats. The National Constituent Assembly drew up a new Colombian Constitution in July. During the debate, a large nuinber of proposals were made to limit freedom of press in one form or another. Journalists and the media worked intensively to prevent approval of most of these initiatives. However, it is evident that a hostile environment to the press exists within certain political and parliamentary circles because of its watchful role in Congress. Among the restrictions approved were the "right to corrections in conditions of equity." The new Constitution also stipulates the "social responsibility" of the media. The so-called "right to honor" was also included in the new Constitution. The new parliament to be elected October 27 will be responsible for development of the new Constitution, and it is empowered to determine what restrictions on press freedom might be included in it. The state continues to control the airwaves, thus radio and television. It is a legal requirement for journalists to have a carnet to practice the profession.

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