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IACHR DEPLORES ATTACK AGAINST TRANSMISSION TOWERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CAQUETA, COLOMBIA

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States expresses its serious concern about the attack on the exercise of freedom of the press that occurred against the transmission towers of the local radio stations Cristalina Estéreo and Espléndida Estéreo, near the city of Florencia in the department of Caquetá, early in the morning on March 13, 2005.

According to the information received, on that date several armed men installed approximately twenty kilos of explosives around the area where the transmission equipment of the radio stations was located. The explosion caused serious material damage, which impeded the two local radio stations from continuing to broadcast in the surrounding area.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur deplores the attack, which constitutes one of the most serious kinds of violations of the exercise of freedom of expression. Additionally, the Rapporteurship emphasizes that the material destruction of communications media is a method aimed at silencing the independent and critical press, which also interferes with the right of citizens to receive information. As Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression of the IACHR indicates, "the material destruction of communications media violate[s] the fundamental rights of individuals and strongly restrict[s] freedom of expression."

The Rapporteurship is concerned about this new attack against transmission stations in Colombia, which follows other incidents occurring since February in the departments of Putumayo and Valle del Cauca. On February 13, the antenna of Latina Estéreo in Puerto Asís was destroyed by various unidentified individuals who planted explosives so that they could later burn down the transmission station. On February 20, a car bomb destroyed one of the locations of radio television RCN in Cali. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) claimed responsibility for this attack. Finally, on March 2, the transmission station of the private television channels RCN and Caracol in the department of Putumayo was destroyed by several heavily armed men who spread gasoline and set fire to the interior of the building.

The Rapporteurship emphasizes that freedom of expression is essential for the strengthening of the democratic system and indispensable for the formation of public opinion, both necessary elements to allow social communicators to carry out their role of informing Colombian society. The Rapporteurship values the initiatives coming from the highest levels of the government condemning this type of actions and announcing efforts to investigate them completely. The Special Rapporteur urges the Colombian state to continue with these initiatives, especially to ensure that authorities implement mechanisms of prevention and protection so that these attacks will not be repeated and that the incidents are investigated and sanctioned in a serious and impartial manner. In this sense, the Rapporteurship recalls the commitment expressed by the Heads of State and Government during the Third Summit of the Americas that the States will "ensure […] that journalists and opinion leaders are free to investigate and publish without fear of reprisals."

Reference: PREN-117-E