Manigault: “Labeling journalists as actors in the conflict for fulfilling their professional duty is a form of intimidation".
Miami (December 1, 2025) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemns the threats made by dissident groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), led by alias “Calarcá,” against journalists and staff of Noticias Caracol, following the publication of a journalistic investigation into alleged links between members of that armed group and high-ranking Colombian government officials.
According to various national media outlets, the threats from the FARC dissidents—known as the Estado Mayor de Bloques y Frentes—were issued after Noticias Caracol aired, on November 23, a report revealing alleged connections between members of these dissident factions and state officials.
The Office of the Attorney General confirmed that it is analyzing devices seized in 2024 that contain extremely serious information, according to Caracol. Based on these findings, the investigative body opened six lines of inquiry covering the alleged co-optation of intelligence agents and Army personnel by the dissidents led by “Calarcá,” possible threats to national security, potential financing schemes for a presidential campaign, alliances between illegal actors, and the creation of surveillance companies linked to criminal structures.
According to the IAPA, the statements disseminated in a video by spokespeople participating in negotiations with the government—statements that label journalists as actors in the armed conflict—constitute a direct attack on freedom of expression, an attempt to delegitimize the work of the press, and a serious endangerment of journalists’ lives.
IAPA President Pierre Manigault, chairman of the Evening Post Publishing Inc. group in Charleston, South Carolina, stated that “labeling journalists as actors in the conflict for fulfilling their professional duty is a form of intimidation that threatens the lives of those who report and undermines democratic principles. Violence or armed threats can never be a response to journalistic work, which must be carried out free from pressure, stigmatization, and risk.”
Martha Ramos, chair of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and editorial director of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM), said that “no armed actor can characterize a news outlet as an enemy or belligerent party in retaliation for publishing journalistic content. We urge President Gustavo Petro and High Commissioner for Peace Otty Patiño to publicly condemn these threats and support journalistic work.”
The Colombian Association of Information Media (AMI) called on the High Commissioner for Peace to intervene and clearly and immediately reprimand the armed spokespersons making these threats in the midst of an official negotiation process.
For its part, the Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP) categorically rejected the accusations from these dissidents and warned of the extreme risk faced by the news teams of Noticias Caracol and all reporters covering the activities of armed groups.
According to IAPA’s documentation, armed groups continue to impose restrictions and harassment in regions of Colombia that undermine journalistic work and may foster self-censorship.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.