Attacks on the press in Colombia

BOGOTÁ (EFE).— At least 13 journalists were attacked on Sunday during massive protests against the government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP) reported yesterday.

The events, that organization detailed in a statement, occurred in Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Barranquilla and Medellín and those affected are reporters from the state channel RTVC; the Bogotá newspaper “El Tiempo” and the digital media “Juan Maza BQ”, “Cofradía para el Cambio”, “Tras Este Visor” and “El Tamal News”.

These journalists “were victims of physical and verbal attacks, obstruction of journalistic work and threats, which forced them to interrupt coverage to safeguard their integrity,” the information added.

Eight victims had bottles, cans, water and other substances thrown at them while covering the demonstrations. Even in the case of photographer Vanessa Romero and presenter Deivis López, from “El Tiempo”, a man tried to interrupt their live broadcast, after which he pushed and tore the journalist’s card.

“A similar situation was experienced by the Atlántico correspondent, Sayni Elisa Agámez, from RTVC, when they surrounded her and a person pulled her hair and hit her on the arm,” FLIP added.

In five of the cases, the journalists stated that there was no police presence, while in the rest, “although there was, the relevant accompaniment was not provided and they received comments such as ‘that’s not with us’ and ‘we recommend that you leave for safety’. ”.

Rejection of Petro

Sunday’s protests, attended by tens of thousands of people, were the largest demonstration of rejection of the president for the way he is leading the country, especially the health sector.

The protest, which in Bogotá defied the rain that fell again after a prolonged drought, had no visible leader and was called by medical associations that found echo in other sectors of society that, with white t-shirts, banners and Colombian flags, They joined the mobilization.

In this way, in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, Cúcuta, Bucaramanga, Neiva and other Colombian cities, health personnel in their white coats, transporters, Army veterans, housewives and opposition politicians gathered to show their rejection of the government, which is not yet two years old.

“This march has diverse expressions, I am here representing those who do not want to return to the past, but rather build a different Colombia,” said former mayor of Medellín and former presidential candidate Sergio Fajardo.

In Bogotá, transporters united with their trucks and buses to complain about the rise in fuel prices and insecurity on the roads, where assaults have become daily.

In Chía, a city near Bogotá, a crowd chanting slogans against the president headed towards the private residence that Petro has in that town.

The mobilization was called by the Colombian Association of Surgery and then joined by the Colombian Association of Scientific Societies (ACSC), which represents 69 organizations of specialist doctors, after the Government intervened several health care companies (EPS) after the failure in Congress of his reform of the sector, a call that attracted people from all walks of life.

Convening Mobilization

The mobilization was called by the Colombian Association of Surgery.

Scientists

Then the Colombian Association of Scientific Societies (ACSC) joined, which represents 69 organizations of medical specialists, after the government intervened in several health care companies (EPS) following the failure in Congress of its reform of the sector, called It attracted people from all walks of life.

Banner

“We ask to be taken into account in the changes to the health system,” read a banner from a group of doctors who, wearing white coats, participated in Bogotá.