THE CORNERED PRESS: A GAME OF VIOLENT AND POWERFUL" - Fundación para La Libertad De Prensa Translation: Foundation for Press Freedom (7)
Like other countries around the world, Colombia is constantly confronted with challenges in covering news, depriving individuals of their right to speak out on issues affecting their country, or depriving them of their right to know this vital information. Iván Duque becoming president in 2018 showed that journalists and media outlets have become the "targets" of Iván Duque's presidency, with them being targeted with several threats ranging from espionage, intimidation campaigns, and harassment after these newspeople publicized that members of his government engaged in fraud, corruption, and human rights violations (6). This issue raises the question of whether these journalists striving to exercise their right to free expression have always been repressed or if there was a time in Colombia's history when there were no problems.
When did Colombia Gain Freedom of Expression?
During César Gaviria's presidency, Colombia established individual, familial, and societal rights in the Colombian Constitution of 1991, and assurances were maintained, focusing on constitutional protections. Within the constitution, Article 20 states, "Every individual is guaranteed the freedom to express and diffuse his/her thoughts and opinions, to transmit and receive information that is true and impartial, and to establish mass communications media" (3).
Colombia, however, is included in the "Difficult Situation" of Freedom of the Press Worldwide in the year 2021, as shown in the image on the right. This image creates the impression that, despite Colombia's claim that individuals have the right to free expression, it is still difficult for some people, such as journalists, to exercise that right.
Image Source: “2020 World Press Freedom Index | Reporters Without Borders." Retrieved From: https://rsf.org/en/ranking#
Is Freedom of Expression Truly in Colombia?
As previously discussed, Colombia's 1991 Constitution established freedom of expression, but those who choose to speak out face obstacles. The constitution guarantees freedom of expression, but it appears to be "limited and shaped" by events in Colombia and when individuals decide to speak out (3).
Some events in Colombia have occurred recently or have lasted for a long time. For example, the background image depicts a man detained during an anti-government protest in Bogota, Colombia, on May 5, 2021. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, they worked with Reporters Without Borders and IFEX-ALC to write a letter to Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez expressing their "concern about police officers' reported use of force against demonstrators and journalists covering the protests" (8). Displaying that although these individuals express their freedom of expression, they are still being silenced or detained for their actions.
How Has the Press Been Treated For Their Freedom of Expression?
"The press, above all, requires sustained vigilance, so that under this pretext of freedom of thought the old tendencies of disrespect and poignancy with which mercenary pens seek the path of the progressives will not reappear." - Rafael Nuñez, Former President of Colombia, 1880-1886 (1)
"It is prohibited to publish information, news, comments, caricatures, drawings or photographs that, directly or indirectly, imply disrespect for the President of the Republic or for the Head of State of a friendly Nation, or seriously compromise the normal development of Colombia’s international relations." - Gustavo Rojas, Former President of Colombia, 1953-1957 (1)
It has been demonstrated that, while previous government officials respected freedom of expression, they viewed certain acts of expression as disrespectful, and they would go to any length to silence members of the press who spoke out against government officials. With this happening in Columbia, it begs whether there is any hope of resolving the recurring issue of freedom of expression violations for individuals in Colombia.
Image Source: (“Colombia Protests”) Retrieved From: http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Colombia-Prtotests/f612e73391074262ab287f00e1561b44/265/0
What About Colombia's Civilians? Are Journalists the Only People Being Mistreated?
Note: To access the video, users must click on the "Watch On YouTube" link to access the video due to age restrictions. Video Source: (Colombia: Paro Nacional 2021 - YouTube) (5)
As shown in the video above, the protests were in response to the government's decision on the tax reform bill made by President Iván Duque, which resulted in several civilians protesting to fight against this decision made by their president (5). However, not only did journalists and media reporters face attacks such as "physical violence, arbitrary arrests, and the deletion of journalistic material," but civil organizations claimed that "26 people were killed as a result of repression by the National Police and 761 arbitrary detentions [among the protests]" (2). These actions by the National Police show that journalists' freedom of expression and the rights of Colombian citizens, some of whom were killed for protesting their beliefs, were violated.
The graph above depicts Colombia's Freedom of Expression Scores declining in 2017 following the President's agreement with the guerilla group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, where "Colombia's environment for expression and participation, far from flourishing, has collapsed into further violence, with dire consequences for security and the environment for communicators and activists" (9). Demonstrating how Colombians are constantly having issues with freedom of expression and reaching levels of freedom of expression comparable to their low scores between early 2000 and 2009.
Translation: Jesus killed the state
Image Source: (“Colombia Protests”) Retrieved From: http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Colombia-Protests/719be06d7fd040b1ae94384518ec4d6e/165/0
Translation: Fighting For Our Dead
Photo Source: ("Colombia Protests") Retrieved From: http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Colombia-Protests/0145d42e9c3b4003a4903274a3ec72ce/150/0
This photo shows civilians of Colombia setting up memorials of the people who died during the protests in 2021.
Photo Source: ("Colombia Protests") Retrieved From: http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Colombia-Protests/0145d42e9c3b4003a4903274a3ec72ce/150/0
Should Colombia revisit its constitution?
Colombia's fraught history of political leaders opposing freedom of expression with specific media and individuals reveals numerous issues. This issue prompted the creation of the Colombian Constitution of 1991, which included many new articles to make the country a better place for all. Article 20 of their Constitution expresses, "Every individual is guaranteed the freedom to express and diffuse his/her thoughts and opinions" (3). Article 73 notably says, "Journalistic activity is protected to guarantee its freedom and professional independence" (4). This begs whether government officials still believe in that Constitution and whether or not they should revisit and express more freedom of expression for all, particularly journalists, as shown where journalists were given a specific article within the Constitution allowing them to have the right to express their thoughts.
References:
(1) Adriaan, Alsema. “Colombia and the Fine Art of Censorship.” Colombia News | Colombia Reports, 10 June 2019, https://colombiareports.com/colombia-and-the-fine-art-of-censorship/.
(2) “Amnesty Denounces Police Repression of Demonstrations in Colombia.” Amnesty International, 4 May 2021, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/05/colombia-amnistia-denuncia-respuesta-militarizada-represion-policial/.
(3) “Colombia.” Free Speech and Free Press Around the World, 7 Apr. 2014, https://freespeechfreepress.wordpress.com/south-america/colombia/.
(4) Colombia: Constitutions. https://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Colombia/colombia.html. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
(5) Colombia: Paro Nacional 2021 - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnxFkldh6AY. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
(6) “Colombia : Violence and Self-Censorship | Reporters without Borders.” RSF, https://rsf.org/en/colombia. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
(7) Comunicaciones. Informe anual 2018: Prensa acorralada: un juego de violentos y poderosos. https://flip.org.co/index.php/es/publicaciones/informes-anuales/item/2315-informe-anual-prensa-acorralada-un-juego-de-violentos-y-poderosos. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
(8) “CPJ, Partners Call on Colombian Authorities to Address Press Freedom Violations in Protest Response.” Committee to Protect Journalists, 6 May 2021, https://cpj.org/2021/05/cpj-partners-call-on-colombian-authorities-to-address-press-freedom-violations-in-protest-response/.
(9) “Country in Focus: Colombia.” ARTICLE 19, https://www.article19.org/reader/global-expression-report-2018-19/regional-overviews/the-americas-regional-overview/the-americas-countries-in-focus/country-in-focus-colombia/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2022.
Image References (In Order):
Free Image on Pixabay - City, Architecture, Urban, Bogota. https://pixabay.com/photos/city-architecture-urban-bogota-4457801/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
Flickr, World Economic Forum on. English: César Gaviria, Colombian Politician, Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Latin America 2009 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. 15 Apr. 2009. César Gaviria Trujillo - World Economic Forum on Latin America 2009Copyright World Economic Forum (www.weforum.org) / Photo by Alexandre Campbell, Wikimedia Commons, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C%C3%A9sar_Gaviria,_World_Economic_Forum_on_Latin_America_2009_(cropped).jpg.
“2020 World Press Freedom Index | Reporters Without Borders.” RSF, https://rsf.org/en/ranking. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
“Country in Focus: Colombia.” ARTICLE 19, https://www.article19.org/reader/global-expression-report-2018-19/regional-overviews/the-americas-regional-overview/the-americas-countries-in-focus/country-in-focus-colombia/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2022.
Vergara, Fernando.“Colombia Protests.” AP Images, http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Colombia-Prtotests/f612e73391074262ab287f00e1561b44/265/0. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
Vergara, Fernando. “Colombia Protests.” AP Images, http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Colombia-Protests/719be06d7fd040b1ae94384518ec4d6e/165/0. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
Vergara, Fernando. “Colombia Protests.” AP Images, http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Colombia-Protests/9336d3d874f74becb302ec647bb5c8fb/217/0. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
Vergara, Fernando. “Colombia Protests.” AP Images, http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Colombia-Protests/0145d42e9c3b4003a4903274a3ec72ce/150/0. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
Free Photo Flag Colombia International - Max Pixel. https://www.maxpixel.net/Flag-Colombia-International-2690990. Accessed 24 Feb. 2022.
Credits:
Created with an image by bergslay - "city architecture urban"