Paramilitaries threaten priest who runs community radio station

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=26711
Paramilitaries threaten priest who runs community radio station

Reporters Without Borders is worried about death threats made in the past 10 days against Catholic priest Rafael Gallego, the manager of Ecos de Tiquisio, a community radio station in Tiquisio, in the northern department of Bolívar, and the leaders of other civil society organisations in the region.

The threats were made in two email messages signed by the Black Eagles, a branch of the paramilitary alliance known as the United Self-Defence Groups of Colombia (AUC), which has a strong presence in Colombia’s northern departments.

“Community media such as Ecos de Tiquisio play a very important role in local life in Bolívar and are very popular with the local population,�? Reporters Without Borders said. “The Black Eagles are using these threats to both intimidate the station’s personnel and undermine their credibility, with the aim of consolidating their own influence in a region wracked by armed violence. We urge the Bolívar departmental authorities to protect Father Gallego and all of the station’s personnel.�?

The Network of Community Radio Stations of the Mid-Magdalena Region (AREDMAG), of which Ecos de Tiquisio is a member, reported in a 16 April release that death threats had been made against representatives of several regional organisations including Father Gallego in a message signed by Commander Camilo Mora of the Northern Block of the Black Eagles.

It referred to them as “military targets�?and announced an “annihilation plan�? in which they would be “exterminated one by one.�?

A second email was sent by the same group on 19 April, using insulting language to accuse leaders of civil society, religious and human rights groups of complicity with the leftist guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and National Liberation Army (ELN). The message ended: “ We will begin with you and then we will deal with all the others until no one is left. You sons of bitches, we are going to do you in. For a Colombia without guerrillas.�?

A meeting was held the same day in Cartagena, the capital of Bolívar, between the president of the department, central government representatives and Catholic church officials to devise a security plan for the threatened individuals and organisations.

After the meeting, Father Gallego told journalists that he and the other threatened priests had decided to decline the offer of police protection and opt for “the protection that the people themselves offer us.�? The departmental authorities nonetheless said a round table would be organised in May with civil society organisations to analyse the situation and step security measures.

By romy on Apr 25, 2008, 12:41 in Politics & the war.

romy says on Apr 25, 2008, 12:43:

Hey robi it seems like the e-mails keep on piling up. I wonder if they can trace the IP. I hope it doesn't lead to some funny-guy screwing around.

kalder says on Apr 25, 2008, 13:33:

I hope Catholic priests are the spokesmen elect of the divine order. That'd mean there's some justice and the likes of the Aguilas Negras will burn in hell.

"kalder- have you ever had a woman?"--Sam Salmon

juancegomez says on Apr 28, 2008, 19:30:

Everyone who makes equivalent threats deserves as much scorn as possible, including but not limited to the paramilitaries or people close to them, and the victims deserve attention and protection.

romy says on Apr 28, 2008, 23:29:

More threats from paramilitaries...

http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2008/04/28/colombia-activistas-de-d...
Colombia: activistas de Derechos Humanos denuncian ataques en su contra
Organizaciones locales señalan como responsables a paramilitares de ultraderecha.
AFP
Publicado: 28/04/2008 16:08

Bogotá. Activistas colombianos de derechos humanos denunciaron este lunes una ola de ataques en su contra de parte de paramilitares de ultraderecha, que incluye asesinatos y amenazas.

Las agresiones afectan a dirigentes campesinos, sindicalistas, universitarios, promotores de la salida pacífica al conflicto colombiano e investigadores del fenómeno paramilitar, según varias organizaciones, que señalan como responsable al grupo Aguilas Negras.

Esa banda está integrada por disidentes de las Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC, paramilitares, extrema derecha), que en 2006 concluyeron la desmovilización de 32 mil hombres en el marco de un proceso de paz, según las autoridades.

Iván Cepeda, líder de una asociación de víctimas del conflicto, sostuvo que los ataques afectan a dirigentes sociales que "participaron activamente", el 6 de marzo, en una protesta contra los paramilitares y los crímenes de Estado, uno de los cuales, Carlos Burbano, fue asesinado.

Burbano fue hallado muerto el 13 de marzo en San Vicente del Caguán (sur), y según la Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) es uno de los 22 sindicalistas asesinados en lo que va del año.

El diario El Tiempo reseñó este lunes el caso de José Molina, líder de una agremiación campesina del departamento de Huila (suroeste) abatido por soldados en un retén que, según el ejército, intentó burlar.

Los militares acusaron a Molina de pertenecer a la guerrilla marxista de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), pero pobladores citados por el diario coincidieron en que era un "activo líder comunitario"