texas-moody

Colombia

Colombia’s Supreme Court upholds convictions in torture case of journalist Claudia Julieta Duque

"The Supreme Court's Criminal Cassation Chamber upheld the convictions of Emiro Rojas Granados, former deputy director of the now-defunct Administrative Department of Security, and Néstor Pachón Bermúdez, a former intelligence agent, for their role in the prolonged psychological torture of journalist Claudia Julieta Duque. Duque was the target of a state persecution machine because of […]

TV crew assaulted while covering motorcycle protest in Bogotá

“After authorities in Bogotá announced restrictions for motorcycles over the weekend, a group of riders gathered to protest. While covering the demonstrations, journalist Edward Porras from Noticias Caracol and his team were attacked by a group of motorcyclists. According to Porras, the riders initially approached to express their opposition to the restrictions. However, some reacted […]

Court orders Colombian president to publicly apologize for calling women journalists 'mafia dolls'

"[Colombia's] Plenary Chamber of the Constitutional Court protected the fundamental rights of women journalists to freedom of expression, the right to live a life free from violence, and non-discrimination, in ruling on two constitutional protection actions filed against President Gustavo Petro. The court reviewed the lawsuits filed by attorney Germán Calderón España and a group […]

Colombia’s inspector general warns communications regulator over possible press freedom violations

"Colombia’s Office of the Inspector General warned the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) about possible violations of press freedom and the editorial independence of news outlets. The warning came after the oversight agency sent official requests to several media organizations asking for information related to news and journalistic content. In the document sent to the CRC, […]

Colombian journalist faces legal action for articles on plastic surgery

"Journalist Lorena Beltrán, known for years of reporting alleged irregularities in the qualifications of doctors who are practicing as plastic surgeons without meeting the legal requirements, [...] is facing four tutela actions [a legal remedy for the immediate protection of fundamental rights in Colombia] filed by doctors who have been the subjects of her investigations. […]

Bogotá councilman investigated after protest blockades, confrontation with journalist

"Colombia’s Inspector General’s Office has opened a disciplinary investigation into Bogotá city councilman Julián Forero Casteblanco, known as 'Fuchi,' following his participation in a Sept. 16 protest by taxi and motorcycle drivers. According to the agency, Forero allegedly encouraged blockades on major roads and was involved in an incident with a journalist during the demonstrations. […]

FLIP warns that, four years after Inter-American Court ruling in Jineth Bedoya Lima case, Colombian State has still not complied with it

"Before journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima entered the [Special Jurisdiction for Peace] headquarters in Bogotá, where the Inter-American Court of Human Rights hearing on her case was being held, the Prosecutor's Office linked former directors of the [Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol] and [National Penitentiary and Prison Institute], among other former officials, with accusations of […]

Man accused of coordinating hit on Colombian journalist Gustavo Chicangana is arrested

"Colombia's National Police captured Manuel Cantuni Arias, alias 'Cartulina' in [the municipality of] San José del Guaviare. He is accused of coordinating the hit against journalist Gustavo Chicangana and his wife, Ana Milena Torres, on July 5. The detainee, who allegedly acted as the criminal coordinator of the ‘Jorge Suárez Briceño’ bloc of the FARC […]

Former Colombian intelligence chief convicted of aggravated torture of journalist Claudia Duque

"The Tenth Specialized Criminal Court of Bogotá sentenced Giancarlo Auqué De Silvestri, former Director of Intelligence and former Secretary General of the now-defunct Administrative Department of Security (DAS, for its acronym in Spanish), to 12 years and six months in prison. The court ruling holds him responsible for the aggravated psychological torture committed against journalist […]

Colombian journalist sentenced for aiding criminal gangs in media

"The Supreme Court's Criminal Cassation Chamber upheld the conviction of journalist Miller Orlando Rubio Orjuela for conspiracy to commit a crime. Rubio Orjuela, a renowned television journalist, was found guilty of using his profession to benefit the criminal organization led by Pedro Nel Rincón Castillo, alias 'Pedro Orejas,' a drug trafficker extradited to the United […]

Colombia Supreme Court sets precedent in crimes against journalists by upholding 58-year sentence for murders of Luis Antonio Peralta and wife

"The Criminal Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice set a key precedent in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against journalists in Colombia, upholding the 58-year prison sentence against Yean Arlex Buenaventura Barreto, identified as a co-author in the murders of journalist Luis Antonio Peralta Cuéllar and his wife, Sofía Quintero, which occurred […]

Gabo journalism awards recognize standout work from Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, El Salvador and Mexico

Five journalistic works from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and El Salvador were announced as winners in the 13th edition of the Gabo Award, the most important recognition for journalism in Spanish and Portuguese. In the Text category, the award went to the report “Buscando a Mikelson: un apartheid en el Caribe” (Searching for Mikelson: Apartheid […]