Renowned Colombian journalist Hollman Morris' U.S. visa application was rejected on June 16, The Progressive is reporting. The story did not say why the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá denied his visa.
However, the Center for International Policy's Colombia Program has published documents revealing "political warfare" -- including surveillance and wiretapping -- targeting Morris and others considered to be opponents of President Álvaro Uribe.
According to Colombia Reports, government files call for Morris' passport to be stolen
and a plan to "request suspension" of his visa.
Morris needs a visa because he has been selected as one of the Harvard Nieman Foundation's International Nieman Fellows.
“We were surprised by the decision and are committed to do everything we can to get Hollman here in the fall,” Bob Giles, Nieman Foundation curator, is quoted as saying in the Progressive article.
Morris directs the award-winning TV program Contravía, which presents a critical view of Colombia's armed conflict. He recently was honored for his courageous reporting during an homage June 28 at the Universidad Javeriana.
See more Knight Center stories about Morris here.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
