In Colombia, the difficult situation of journalists who dare to investigate and report illegal activities continues to be alarming. Alejandro Villanueva, prominent journalist and director of the digital media Desigual, has become the latest target of intimidation for his investigative work in the city of Bucaramanga, located in the northeast of the country. The Foundation for Freedom of the Press (FLIP) has denounced the serious threats received by Villanueva, highlighting the growing vulnerability of journalists in the country.
Villanueva’s investigations, focused on identifying the actors behind the laundering of drug money and the family ties of a local comptroller to paramilitary groups, have unleashed a wave of hostilities against him. According to FLIP, in the last two weeks, the journalist has been the victim of death threats and harassment, culminating in the receipt of more than ten intimidating messages through social networks on March 1.
These attacks are not isolated incidents. At the end of January, Villanueva experienced physical surveillance and, at the beginning of February, he was threatened on two separate occasions, one of them in a shopping center and the other through a message on social networks. Given the seriousness of the situation, Villanueva has proceeded to report these events to the Prosecutor’s Office, while FLIP has requested an urgent risk assessment from the National Protection Unit (UNP) for the journalist and his family.
FLIP has also called on the National Police to implement prevention and protection measures that ensure Villanueva’s integrity and allow him to continue his important journalistic work without fear of reprisals.
This incident adds to an already tense context for journalism in Colombia. In January, Mardonio Mejía, director of the community radio station Sonora Estéreo, was murdered in San Pedro, Sucre. A few months earlier, in May, Luis Gabriel Pereira, director of the digital media Notiorense in the department of Córdoba, was also murdered. These crimes, still unsolved, highlight the urgent need for effective measures to protect journalists in Colombia, who face significant risks when practicing their profession.
Alejandro Villanueva’s situation is a grim reminder of the dangers investigative journalists face in Colombia. The international community and Colombian authorities must come together to ensure that press freedom is protected and that journalists can report without fear of reprisals. The fight against impunity and for the safety of communicators is essential to preserve democracy and the right to information in the country.