Paris, 12 June 2000

Exiled Journalist Calls for Urgent Action in Colombia

Exiled Colombian editor Francisco Santos Calderon urged international journalist associations to create a permanent observatory to monitor press freedom violations in Colombia, where four journalists have been murdered so far this year.

Speaking at the opening ceremonies of the World Association of Newspapers annual meetings in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday (12 June), Mr Santos called for the creation of such an international body "because Colombia needs this solidarity and this action. The sooner the better before it is too late."

Mr Santos, the editor of El Tiempo and one of Colombia’s leading peace activists, went into exile earlier this year after he learned of a plot to have him killed.

Colombia is one of the most dangerous places to practice journalism, with a volatile mix of drug traffickers and warfare. Last year, seven journalists were murdered. "Journalists are easy targets," said Mr Santos.

"Colombian reality has become more violent day by day," Mr Santos said in an address to nearly 1,400 publishers, editors and their guests attending the 53^rd World Newspaper Congress and 7^th World Editors Forum in Rio de Janeiro (11-14 June).

Mr Santos said an international observatory to monitor violations of freedom of the press was necessary because those who attack journalists are sensitive to international repercussions from their actions.

"We need a permanent office in Colombia of all international journalists associations, to investigate each case, because I believe the situation is becoming unbearable," he said.

WAN, which represents 17,000 newspapers around the globe, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to the defence and promotion of press freedom and the development of newspaper publishing world-wide.

Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 25 rue d'Astorg, 75008 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr
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