MIAMI,
Florida (Sept. 12, 2000)-The Inter American Press Association (IAPA)
today publicly expressed its concern and outrage at the murder in
Colombia of journalist Carlos José Restrepo Rocha and called
on the authorities there to take up the case immediately so as to
bring those responsible to trial.
Restrepo Rocha, editor of the Tangente newspaper and publisher of
the daily Usocoello al Día, was murdered on Saturday (Sept.
9) by members of the Self-Defense Units of Colombia (AUC) paramilitary
movement. He was shot 11 times in the neck and chest. His body was
found by residents of the San Luis township in Tolima province,
125 miles southwest of Bogotá.
"We call on the government not to allow this crime to be just
another ruthless act of violence afflicting Colombia. We ask the
president and the national attorney general to fulfill their pledge
to the Inter American Press Organization in May to investigate crimes
against journalists in their country," said Rafael Molina,
chairman of the IAPAs Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information.
Restrepo Rocha, 44, was running for a seat on the local city council.
According to local residents a group of some 20 men identifying
themselves as members of the AUC grabbed him, handcuffed him and
took him away, accusing him of being in league with leftwing guerrillas.