NOVANEWS
Since 1977, at least 142 journalists have been murdered in Colombia.
The murdered journalist was recognized for his “critical kind of journalism.”
Renowned Colombian journalist Luis Peralta Cuellar, 63, was shot at least seven times and killed near his house Saturday evening, according to witnesses.
“Peralta was known for a critical kind of journalism,” stated the Foundation for the Freedom of the Press (FLIP), which condemned the crime.
His wife, injured during the attack, was immediately taken from her home in El Doncello, Caqueta, to the nearest hospital. She is reportedly out of danger.
The famous reporter headed up the radio station Linda Estereo, a branch of Caracol Radio. The FLIP also revealed that the journalist had received death threats on a number of occasions. Peralta covered critical issues such as extractivism and administrative corruption
“Days before, Peralta had told his colleague that he had been threatened, without giving further details, nor filing a complaint with the police,” the journalism group stated.
The FLIP also recalled that in 2010 local police deactivated an explosive device, programmed to explode via a cellphone, left outside Peralta’s radio building.
Peralta had just announced his candidacy as the mayor of Doncello Friday, the first public position the journalist had considered.
Colombia celebrated the Day of the Journalist on Feb. 9. Since 1977, the FLIP has recorded 142 journalists murdered in the South American nation.
See more: 97 Journalists Killed in Mexico in Past 4 Years
UN Calls on an End to Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
“Peralta was known for a critical kind of journalism,” stated the Foundation for the Freedom of the Press (FLIP), which condemned the crime.
His wife, injured during the attack, was immediately taken from her home in El Doncello, Caqueta, to the nearest hospital. She is reportedly out of danger.
The famous reporter headed up the radio station Linda Estereo, a branch of Caracol Radio. The FLIP also revealed that the journalist had received death threats on a number of occasions. Peralta covered critical issues such as extractivism and administrative corruption
“Days before, Peralta had told his colleague that he had been threatened, without giving further details, nor filing a complaint with the police,” the journalism group stated.
The FLIP also recalled that in 2010 local police deactivated an explosive device, programmed to explode via a cellphone, left outside Peralta’s radio building.
Peralta had just announced his candidacy as the mayor of Doncello Friday, the first public position the journalist had considered.
Colombia celebrated the Day of the Journalist on Feb. 9. Since 1977, the FLIP has recorded 142 journalists murdered in the South American nation.
See more: 97 Journalists Killed in Mexico in Past 4 Years
UN Calls on an End to Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
