The Freedom of the Press Foundation (FLIP) rejected this Friday the threats by a criminal organization against journalists in the city of Cucuta in a pamphlet in which they announce the launch of a “gun plan“against communicators.
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“Through a pamphlet distributed by groups of WhatsApp and Facebook, This gang, apparently, has announced a gun plan against journalists, declaring them military objectives,” denounced the FLIP, which considered that it is a “alarming situation” within a context of growing violence in the city.
In Cúcuta, capital of the department of Norte de Santander, the organization has documented 23 attacks so far this year and, in addition, on April 14, the supervisor Jaime Vásquezknown for investigating matters of interest in Norte de Santander.
“As a consequence of the escalation of attacks and the absence of guarantees and responses from the authorities, some journalists have preferred to refrain from publishing information related to security issues, judicial matters and actions of criminal gangs, for fear of retaliation.”added FLIP.
In this context, FLIP called on the Prosecutor’s Office to carry out investigations into the pamphlet and other cases of violence against the press, while urging the authorities to develop a prevention and protection strategy for journalists.
In the pamphlet that circulates on social networks, the AK7 organization announces a “pistol plan in the city of Cúcuta aimed at all radio, TV, social media journalists and anyone who speaks or comments” about them.
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“As of the time and date, whoever publishes or disseminates against us will be declared a military objective“added the criminal group, which established a curfew at the city’s transportation terminal and threatened senior public officials and the mayor, Jorge Acevedo.
FLIP also asked the National Protection Unit “prioritize risk studies for communicators and adjust protection schemes to the high risk of journalists in the city.”
