JANUARY 11, 2005
Updated: September 2, 2005
Julio Hernando Palacios Sánchez, Radio Lemas
KILLED—CONFIRMED
Two armed motorcyclists shot Palacios, 55, a veteran radio news host, as he drove to work around 5:30 a.m. in the city of Cúcuta, in the unstable northeastern region near the Venezuelan border.
Palacios, who hosted the morning program "Radio Periódico El Viento" on Radio Lemas, was shot three times in the chest, said the local police chief, Col. José Humberto Henao.
Despite his wounds, Palacios drove back home and his family took him to a local hospital. He died two hours after arriving at San José Hospital in Cúcuta, Henao told CPJ. He did not immediately speculate about a motive, saying local police offered a reward for information leading to the capture of the gunmen.
Palacios was a controversial and outspoken journalist who devoted a segment of his program to denouncing local corruption, sources told CPJ. Local journalists said that Palacios had made enemies because of his tough talk against corruption; they said they believed the murder was connected to his work.
Palacios received anonymous threats in October 2004, sources told CPJ. The Cúcuta-based daily La Opinión said local police gave Palacios a security manual and suggested he change his daily routine.
He survived an attack nine years ago when assailants hurled a grenade into his office that failed to explode, The Associated Press reported. Palacios was a political conservative known for supporting President Álvaro Uribe.
No arrests or progress were reported in the investigation.
FEBRUARY 20, 2005
Posted: February 22, 2005
RCN Television and Radio
ATTACKED
A car bomb exploded at 10:15 p.m. outside the offices of RCN Television and Radio in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city. A security guard and sound engineer were injured in the blast, which significantly damaged the facilities.
About 66 pounds (30 kilograms) of explosives were packed into a blue Renault car and detonated on a street in front the RCN offices, according to local press reports.
An unidentified individual parked the vehicle in front of the outlet's facilities and then left the scene riding a motorcycle, Johana Amaya, a correspondent with RCN Television in Cali told CPJ.
Sound engineer Ricardo Luna and security guard Jaime Alberto Martínez were slightly wounded in the explosion. RCN did not stop broadcasting since most of the damage occurred in the administrative offices.
Two suspects were arrested on February 22 and are being investigated in connection with the attack, RCN Radio reported. Authorities have not yet determined who is behind the explosion, but the Colombian army said rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) might be responsible.
Local police offered a reward for any information leading to the identification or capture of those responsible.
This is not the first attack against RCN. On April 12, 2002, a rocket exploded near the studios of RCN Television in the capital, Bogotá.
MAY 16, 2005
Posted: May 18, 2005
Daniel Coronell, Canal Uno
Carlos Lozano, Voz
Hollman Morris, Canal Uno
THREATENED
Coronell, news director of “Noticias Uno” (News One) on the television station Canal Uno; Lozano, news director with the weekly Voz (Voice); and Morris, producer of the weekly news television show “Contravía” (Opposite Way) on Canal Uno, all received death threats, the journalists told CPJ.
On Monday morning, Canal Uno received two funeral wreaths, one addressed to Coronell. The journalist told CPJ he has recently received several anonymous death threats on the telephone. Last Saturday, an anonymous caller threatened to kill his wife and daughter.
On Monday afternoon, a messenger delivered a funeral wreath to Lozano at the office of Voz. The messenger said the flowers came from a florist in northern Bogotá, and were sent by the Montoya family for Lozano’s burial. Lozano told CPJ he has been receiving anonymous death threats on the phone since the beginning of this year.
Also that afternoon, Morris received a wreath at his home. The flowers were accompanied by a card expressing “sincere condolences” and signed by the Henao family. Morris told CPJ he has also received death threats over the phone.
Colombian President Álvaro Uribe issued a press release yesterday condemning the threats and calling on security forces to protect the journalists against possible attacks. “Threats against journalists and their impunity are shameful for our democracy,” said Uribe. He said he would reinforce the journalists’ safety and conduct an investigation to prosecute those responsible.
Coronell, Lozano and Morris are recognized for their independent and investigative reporting on political corruption, drug trafficking and Colombia’s ongoing civil war Lozano and Coronell are already under police protection, but Morris told CPJ he is not.
AUGUST 15, 2005
Posted August 18, 2005
El Informador
ATTACKED
Attackers hurled a grenade at the offices of El Informador. The newspaper said police believed a motorcycle passenger lobbed a fragmentation grenade which exploded outside the newsroom where three journalists and a designer were working. The blast damaged the building but caused no injuries.
El Informador is a family-owned daily in the port city of Santa Marta, in northern Magdalena Department. It was unclear why it was attacked.
Reporter Rafael Rodríguez Santana, who was in the office during the attack, said no one had claimed responsibility. Rodríguez said the newspaper had recently published articles on the capture of alleged paramilitary combatants and the detention of public officials accused of corruption.
Joana Romero, an editor, said the staff had received no threats and journalists were surprised by the attack.