Colombian journalists demonstrate to support missing colleagues

Record ID: 102098

  • Title: Colombian journalists demonstrate to support missing colleagues
  • Date: 25th May 2016
  • Summary: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (MAY 25, 2016) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF JOURNALISTS GATHERED IN BOLIVAR SQUARE TO DEMAND RELEASE OF MISSING JOURNALISTS FEARED KIDNAPPED JOURNALISTS HOLDING BANNER WITH PHOTO OF MISSING FELLOW REPORTER SALUD HERNANDEZ, WHO WRITES FOR SPAIN'S EL MUNDO AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS SIGN BEING HELD, READING: "#ALIVE, FREE, NOW" VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS GATHERED HOLDING PHOTOS AND SIGNS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN JOURNALIST AND BROADCASTER, HERBIN HOYOS, SAYING: "This is a stand-up protest calling for the immediate freedom of Salud Hernandez, Diego D'Pablos and Carlos Melo, the journalists who are kidnapped by the ELN. We are denouncing here that there is a violation of international humanitarian law, there is a flagrant violation freedom of the media and this is an international violation of rights and are demanding that they (ELN) release them immediately." VARIOUS OF DIEGO ANDRES D'PABLOS, SON OF MISSING JOURNALIST DIEGO D'PABLOS ADDRESSING GATHERED GROUP JOURNALISTS DURING PROTEST POSTER WITH PHOTOS OF DIEGO D'PABLOS AND CARLOS MELO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SON OF DIEGO D'PABLOS, DIEGO ANDRES D'PABLOS, SAYING: "It's not fair they (ELN) take away the freedom of a person because it is the most precious thing we have. What they are doing is not right. It is a crime against humanity. That they release him as soon as possible for this to end." MORE OF JOURNALISTS GATHERED AT PROTEST
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2016 19:58
  • Keywords: Colombia missing journalists government reporters Bogota
  • Location: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA AND UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION IN COLOMBIA
  • City: BOGOTA, COLOMBIA AND UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION IN COLOMBIA
  • Country: Colombia
  • Reuters ID: LVA0014JB4MYR
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    A group of Colombian journalists on Wednesday (May 25) took part in a protest in Bogota to support missing colleagues.
    Two journalists went missing in Colombia's northeast conflict zone while covering the disappearance of a Spanish reporter feared kidnapped this weekend, the government said on Tuesday (May 24).
    Television news channel Noticias RCN said in a statement there had been "a possible kidnapping" of a reporter and a cameraman in Norte de Santander province, near the border with Venezuela. The reporter is Diego D'Pablos and cameraman is Carlos Melo.
    The journalists were in El Tarra municipality to cover the disappearance of fellow reporter Salud Hernandez, who writes for Spain's El Mundo and local newspapers, who was last seen in the area on Saturday (May 21).
    Colombian journalist and broadcaster, Herbin Hoyos, who directs a radio programme called "Las voces del secuestro" (The voices of kidnapping), organised the protest and invited journalists, journalism students and society in general to take part.
    "This is a stand-up protest calling for the immediate freedom of Salud Hernandez, Diego D'Pablos and Carlos Melo, the journalists who are kidnapped by the ELN. We are denouncing here that there is a violation of international humanitarian law, there is a flagrant violation freedom of the media and this is an international violation of rights and are demanding that they (ELN) release them immediately," Hoyos said.
    The heads of the army and the police will go to the province to direct search operations for Hernandez and the other journalists, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Tuesday.
    Military sources and local media have speculated Marxist rebels or crime gangs operating in the area may be responsible for the disappearances, but the government has not yet classified them as kidnappings.
    Diego Andres D'Pablos, the son of Diego D'Pablos, demanded the release of his father and colleagues.
    "It's not fair they (ELN) take away the freedom of a person because it is the most precious thing we have. What they are doing is not right. It is a crime against humanity. That they release him as soon as possible for this to end," D'Pablo said.
    Three other reporters in the region to cover Hernandez's disappearance were briefly held by armed men who identified themselves as members of the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, before being released.
    The country has been in peace talks with bigger rebel group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) since the end of 2012 and recently agreed to start negotiations with the ELN.
    Santos has said no talks will begin until all ELN hostages are freed. The 2,000-strong group has increased oil pipeline bombings in recent months and continued kidnappings in what many see as an attempt to pressure the government into beginning talks.
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