Colombian journalist Hollman Morris has received new threats against his life. This time it's in the form of a video, distributed in the southern part of Bogota, which names Morris and other human rights defenders as being guerrilla agents. Calling journalists who expose human rights violations and human rights defenders in general terrorist agents is a common tactic. In the US itself makes that link to spy on human rights and peace activists. In Colombia, it's akin to putting you in an execution list.
He was actually put in that list last summer, when President Uribe insinuated he was linked to the guerrilla. Previously, along with two other journalists, he had received a beautiful funeral wreath.
Morris is the producer and face of Contravía - a show dedicated to exposing human rights abuses in Colombia. He has also produced and directed documentaries and has worked with the BBC. He's one of the very few journalists who has traveled to different parts of Colombia to interview victims of human rights violations by government or paramilitary forces.
Fourty seven human rights defenders were murdered in Colombia in 2005 alone, while 15 more were kidnapped and/or tortured. Dozens have been subject to arbitrary detentions.
Mr. Morris' life is in grave danger. International pressure *may* help save his life.
Watch a 2005 Amnesty International interview with Mr. Morris
Posted by marga at April 3, 2006 12:18 PM | TrackBack