Colombia Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

People transport motorcycles on a boat crossing the Magdalena river in Santa Cruz de Mompox, Colombia, in September 2017. Attackers set fire to a boat that a journalist in Simití used to report on remote communities along the river. (AFP/Luis Acosta)

Attackers burn boat journalist uses to report in Colombia’s remote regions

November 8, 2019 6:42 PM EST

Bogotá, November 8, 2019—Colombian authorities should immediately investigate an arson attack against a journalist in northern Colombia and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Colombian journalist Daniel Coronell. (Mario Alzate)

CPJ joins statement of concern over safety of Colombian journalist Daniel Coronell

October 7, 2019 2:40 PM EDT

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined the Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP), a Colombian press freedom organization, in issuing a statement on October 4 expressing concern for the safety of journalist Daniel Coronell.

The exterior of Samaniego Stereo radio station in Samaniego, in Colombia's Nariño department. One of the station's journalists, Libardo Montenegro, was shot dead on June 11. (CPJ/John Otis)

Killing of radio journalist highlights dangers for local reporters in Colombia’s border region

July 22, 2019 1:35 PM EDT

The otherwise Spartan studio of Samaniego Stereo is adorned by a white banner emblazoned with the image of Libardo Montenegro, a veteran reporter for the community radio station in southern Colombia who was shot dead on June 11. Under his photo are the words: “You will live in our hearts forever.”

Lights illuminate the Roman Catholic church Las Lajas, in the Colombian department of Nariño in January 2019. A radio journalist in the region was shot dead on June 11. (AFP/Juan Barreto)

Radio journalist Libardo Montenegro killed in Nariño, Colombia

June 14, 2019 3:41 PM EDT

Bogotá, Colombia, June 14, 2019–Colombian authorities should conduct a swift and comprehensive investigation into the killing of radio journalist Libardo Montenegro and ensure those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Photojournalist Federico Ríos has fled Colombia amid online harassment. (Estefania Gonzalez)

Colombian photojournalist Federico Ríos flees after online harassment

May 22, 2019 5:37 PM EDT

Miami, May 22, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Colombian authorities to ensure the safety of photojournalist Federico Ríos, who was forced to flee his country after being harassed online over comments by lawmakers.

The Colombian congress building is seen in Bogota, Colombia, on December 18, 2018. Several lawmakers recently harassed a New York Times journalist and a local press freedom organization online, prompting the journalist to leave the country. (Reuters/Luisa Gonzalez)

New York Times journalist Casey leaves Colombia after online harassment by lawmakers

May 20, 2019 7:49 PM EDT

Miami, May 20, 2019– The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Colombian lawmakers to cease their harassment of New York Times Andes Bureau Chief Nicholas Casey and local press freedom organization, Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP), and to ensure that journalists can report safely in the country.

Álvaro Uribe, center, poses for pictures with supporters at his home in Rionegro, Colombia, in June 2018. Colombia's former president filed a civil defamation suit in the U.S. against journalist Daniel Coronell. (AFP/Joaquin Sarmiento)

Uribe lawsuit part of ‘systematic campaign to silence me,’ Colombian reporter Coronell says

May 20, 2019 11:26 AM EDT

A civil defamation lawsuit filed in a U.S. court by former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez against journalist Daniel Coronell is the latest broadside in a long and bitter dispute pitting one of Colombia’s most powerful politicians against an investigative reporter.

A police officer is seen in Cucuta, Colombia, on February 7, 2019. Documentary filmmaker Mauricio Lezama was recently shot and killed in the village of La Esmeralda. (Reuters/Luisa Gonzalez)

Documentary filmmaker Mauricio Lezama shot and killed in Colombia

May 13, 2019 4:45 PM EDT

Bogotá, May 13, 2019 — Colombian authorities should conduct a swift and comprehensive investigation into the killing of documentary filmmaker Mauricio Lezama Rengifo and ensure those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya (L) speaks during a press conference on November 2, 2014, in Havana, Cuba. Colombia sentenced two ex-paramilitary fighters for a 2000 attack on Bedoya on May 6, 2019. (AFP/Adalberto Roque)

Colombia sentences two ex-paramilitary fighters for 2000 attack on Jineth Bedoya

May 8, 2019 4:04 PM EDT

Miami, May 8, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the sentencing on May 6 of former paramilitary fighters Alejandro Cárdenas Orozco and Jesús Emiro Pereira Rivera for the kidnapping, rape, and torture of Colombian journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima in 2000.

Senator Alvaro Uribe Velez is seen at the National Congress in Bogota, Colombia, on April 30, 2019. Uribe and his allies have recently filed defamation suits and retraction requests against journalist Daniel Coronell. (AFP/Diana Sanchez)

Former Colombian President Uribe and allies file defamation suits against Daniel Coronell

May 8, 2019 12:10 PM EDT

New York, May 8, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by civil defamation lawsuits filed in the U.S. state of Florida against journalist Daniel Coronell by former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe Vélez, now a senator, and his allies, which could have a chilling effect on reporting on the Colombian politician.