[The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have released an urgent action regarding the arrest of Telesur journalist Fredy Muñoz Altamiranda by Colombian security forces on charges of “rebellion and terrorism.” The action includes a public communiqué issued by Muñoz from where he is being detained. --Ed]
Detention of Fredy Muñoz
By NUJ
URGENT ACTION:
Detention of Fredy Muñoz, correspondent in Colombia for CANAL TELESUR
On the evening of November 19, 2006, the journalist FREDY MUÑOZ ALTAMIRANDA, correspondent in Colombia for Canal TELESUR, was detained by agents from the Colombian secret police (DAS). He was detained as he returned to Colombia after participating in a TELESUR workshop that took place in Venezuel. The workshop was organised by one of the BBC’s US correspondents, Michael Cowgan. By order of the 5th District Attorney’s Office in Barranquilla (a city in Northern Colombia), FREDY was detained and accused of “rebellion”.
FREDY MUÑOZ has worked in journalism for the last twelve years. He was an editor for the newspapers El Universal and El Periódico, and was a reporter for the television news program 6:25 (all based in the Colombian city of Cartagena). He has also produced multiple documentaries for the Trópicos series and TeleCaribe, and audiovisual programming for the Leyendas series by Señal Colombia.
FREDY MUNOZ had recently reported on the issue of forced displacement in Colombia, the recent allegations made against General Jorge Daniel Castro regarding drug trafficking, and the negotiations occurring between the paramilitaries and the government.
This detention follows a pattern of persecution against independent journalists exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The following is the public communiqué issued by FREDY MUÑOZ from where he is being detained.
Dear colleagues and friends from throughout the world:
Once again, free and critical journalism is attacked by those who insist on subduing this journalism through the use of pressure, fear, lies, and force. On November 19, after having participated in a Telesur narrative audiovisual workshop by Michael Cowgan (a BBC journalist from North America) and Torry Zumbado (an independent cameraman from the war in Iraq), I returned to Colombia and was detained by the Colombian immigration offices, accused of rebellion and terrorism.
Hundreds of journalists from throughout the world, just as myself, have experienced this accusation, after US unilateralism decided to accuse to be terrorists those who oppose it with reason and arguments, and to exalt those who lower their heads, omit the crimes, and submit to it.
Colleagues and friends, from within this enclosed space, I send my message of thanks to all of you who continue to stake life and freedom in this vital profession, and in everyone else who engages with fervent struggle.
It is so ironic that while the judicial officers opened a file on me for charges very removed from the reality of my twelve years as a journalist, Colombian television transmitted a homage on the sacrificed Jaime Garzón, a journalist whose work aroused the rage and intolerance of a stubborn, detrimental authority, entrenched in the institutionality of the country.
The fact is a good journalist only knows how to speak and proclaim the truth; and, in our aggrieved Latin American countries, truth is the sun that reveals and removes men from the shadows.
Colleagues and friends, thank you again for adding my voice to yours. Thank you for insisting so that, even though these frame-ups occur so often, strength does not wane.
Thank you for teaching me not to falter, because performing journalism means making public what is not wanted to be known, everything else is propaganda. (Tayllerand)
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