WHEREAS
notwithstanding investigations and evidence-gathering by the
prosecutors' office in the murders of eighteen journalists, no progress was
registered over the last six months; the majority of cases in the hands of
the Human Rights Unit of the Office of the Attorney General remain unpunished
WHEREAS
twelve of twenty-eight investigations into crimes against journalists by regional
support units around the country have been suspended, closed or hindered by
restraining orders on court proceedings
WHEREAS
prosecutors announced that their investigation had concluded and proceedings
would be commenced against former mayor Julio César Ardila, as the
suspected mastermind in the murder of José Emeterio Rivas, in Barrancabermeja
on April 7, 2003
WHEREAS
the cases involving the murders of journalists Oscar Polanco (February 4,
2004 in the Cauca valley); Martín La Rotta (February 7, 2004 in the
department of Cesar); and Jaime Alberto Madero (September 20, 2004 in Magdalena)
remain under the jurisdiction of regional units, and have not been transferred
to the Human Rights unit of the Office of the Attorney General in Bogotá,
which may jeopardize their prosecution
WHEREAS
Principle 4 of the Declaration of Chapultepec states, “Freedom of expression
and of the press are severely limited by murder, terrorism, kidnapping, pressure,
intimidation, the unjust imprisonment of journalists, the destruction of facilities,
violence of any kind and impunity for perpetrators. Such acts must be investigated
promptly and punished harshly”
THE MIDYEAR MEETING OF THE IAPA RESOLVES
to urge the Manizales special prosecutor to make good use
of the evidence and witness value provided by the capture of Luis Arley Ortiz
Orozco, a key person in identifying the mastermind behind the murder of Orlando
Sierra, since Ortiz worked as a go-between for Sierra's killers and Francisco
Antonio Quintero Tabares, alleged capo of the Manizales hit men.
to reiterate its request that Dr. Elba Beatriz Silva, head of the Human Rights
Unit of the Office of the Attorney General explain the failure of the unit
assigned to prosecute crimes against journalists and the regional support
units established for the same purpose to identify and punish the guilty parties
to request the Attorney General review the performance of
the unit in charge of crimes against journalists and the regional support
units, and act accordingly to ensure the investigations lead to the masterminds
to request the Office of the Inspector General investigate
why investigations by the Office of the Attorney General into killings of
journalists have failed to yield results
