"Through a statement, the Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP, for its acronym in Spanish) rejected what it called stigmatization that the mayor of Tuluá, Valle del Cauca, Gustavo Vélez, made on social networks where he generally linked the journalistic work of local media with interests of the criminal gang 'La Inmaculada,' which commits crimes in the municipality.
'Systematic and coordinated action by local media outlets in Tuluá to disseminate information from the political wing of the criminal structure La Inmaculada must be investigated by the Prosecutor's Office. The people of Tulu already know who is behind this strategy,' the Mayor said on his social networks.
FLIP said that the statements were worrying because they linked, without any evidence, the press to the actions of a criminal gang in a situation of high levels of violence against journalists and they demanded that the Mayor issue a public apology for the accusations made."
