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Colombia

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 […]

Colombian government admits failure to protect El Espectador journalists killed in 1991

"On Friday [July 25], the Colombian government publicly acknowledged its international responsibility for failing to protect journalists Julio Daniel Chaparro and Jorge Enrique Torres, from the newspaper El Espectador, who were killed 34 years ago in the town of Segovia, in the department of Antioquia [in Colombia]. Chaparro, a 29-year-old reporter and poet, and Torres, […]

Rights commission urges protection for Colombian journalist and family after assassination attempt

“The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and its Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression condemned the recent attack on Gustavo Chica, a journalist at the Estéreo Guaviare radio station, and called for a swift investigation. The international body reported that two people have been arrested in connection with the incident. They […]

Colombian presidential aide draws criticism for calling to control ‘submissive journalism’

Alfredo Saade, chief of staff to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, is the subject of a new controversy after he posted a message on social media that critics say signals an attempt to censor the press. 'Submissive journalism must be controlled,' Saade wrote on X on Monday, July 21. While he didn’t mention any specific outlets […]

Historic ruling in Colombia recognizes responsibility of riot control unit for attack on journalist in 2021

"On July 15, the 61st Administrative Court of Bogotá issued a ruling recognizing the administrative and financial liability of the Ministry of Defense and the National Police for the injuries caused to journalist Andrés Cardona during his coverage of the 2021 National Strike marches. In the decision, the Court ordered them to compensate Cardona with […]