Colombian journalists murdered 2002-2007

Javier Dario Arroyave

06 Sep 2007

Cartago, Valle department

The news director of a popular radio station, stabbed to death in his apartment. He had accused the local mayor of corruption.

Elacio Murillo Mosquera

07 Jan 2007

Istmina, Choco department

Newspaper correspondent and radio reporter, shot dead whilst sitting with two friends in a café. He had been investigating a paramilitary unit active in the region.

Marino Pérez Murcia

26 Nov 2006

Bogota

TV, radio and newspaper reporter, shot dead and his body subsequently dumped.

Jose Bonilla Romero

12 Oct 2006

Cali, Valle department

Newspaper reported and founder of the Bogotá branch of the journalist’s association, shot as he returned home.

Atilano Segundo Pérez Barrios

22 Aug 2006

Cartagena, Bolivar department

Radio commentator, shot dead in his apartment. In his last show, two days before his death, he had accused local politicians of being financed by paramilitaries.

Milton Fabián Sánchez

09 Aug 2006

Yumbo, Valle department

Radio commentator, shot dead outside his home. He had reported on human rights abuses.

Gustavo Rojas Gabalo

20 Mar 2006

Monteria, Cordoba department

Radio commentator, shot repeatedly outside a supermarket near his home on February 4th, later died of his injuries in hospital. He had reported on government corruption.

Hernando Sánchez Roldán

19 Feb 2005

Tulua, Valle del Cauca department

Photojournalist shot dead by gunmen near his home.

Rafael Enrique Prins Velásquez

19 Feb 2005

Magangue, Bolivar department

Newspaper reporter, shot in the central park of Magangue as he interviewed local residents. He had reported on local government corruption.

Julio Hernando Palacios Sánchez

11 Jan 2005

Cucuta, Norte de Santander department

Radio commentator, shot dead as he drove to work. He had reported on government corruption.

Alvaro Paúl Márquez Polo

28 May 2004

Monteria, Cordoba department

Radio and TV commentator, shot dead when a group of men as he visited his parents home.

Martín La Rotta Duarte

07 Feb 2004

San Alberto, Cesar department

Radio commentator, stabbed to death in his apartment. Regularly criticised paramilitaries on his show.

Oscar Alberto Polanco Herrera

04 Jan 2004

Cartago, Valle department

TV journalist on a regional news show, shot dead as he arrived for work. He had reported on local government corruption.

William Soto Cheng

18 Dec 2003

Buenaventura, Valle department

TV journalist on a regional news show, shot dead near his office. He had accused the Colombian Army and Police of being involved in vote tampering in recent elections in the region.

Zuly Esther Codina Pérez

11 Nov 2003

Santa Marta, Magdalena department

Radio commentator, shot dead as she left her home. She had reported on paramilitary activities.

Jose Nel Munoz

05 Oct 2003

Puerto Libertad, Putumayo department

Radio commentator, shot dead two kilometres outside the town of Puerto Libertad in unknown circumstances.

Juan Carlos Benavides Arévalo

22 Aug 2003

Puerto Caicedo, Putumayo department

Radio commentator, shot dead as he travelled to cover a story.

Jaime Rengifo Revero

29 Apr 2003

Maicao, La Guajira department

Radio commentator, shot dead in the hallway of the hotel in which he lived. He had reported on local government corruption and frequently criticised the Colombian Army.

Guillermo Bravo Vega

28 Apr 2003

Neiva, Huila department

Investigative journalist, shot dead in his home. He had reported on government corruption. He had received paramilitary death threats.

José Emeterio Rivas

06 Apr 2003

Barrancabermeja, Santander department

Radio commentator, shot dead at an unknown location his body was subsequently dumped on the outskirts of Barrancabermeja. In the weeks before his death he had criticised local government officials for corruption and collaborating with paramilitaries.

Luis Eduardo Alfonso Parada

18 Mar 2003

Arauca, Arauca department

Radio commentator and newspaper reporter, shot dead as he arrived at work. Regularly criticised government corruption and the paramilitaries and had received paramilitary death threats.

Oscar Salazar Jaramillo

10 Mar 2003

Sevilla, Valle department

Radio commentator, stabbed to death in his apartment. He had reported on local government corruption.

Gimbler Perdomo Zamora

01 Dec 2002

Gigante, Huila department

Radio commentator, shot dead as he arrived home.

José Eli Escalante

28 Oct 2002

Esmeralda, Arauca department

Radio commentator, shot dead as he arrived home. Police officials confirmed that he had been killed but could provide no further details because they had ‘lost’ the report on the crime.

Américo Viáfara Valencia

16 Sep 2002

Cali, Valle del Cauca department

Television producer, shot by two gunmen as he was driving in a vehicle with two other people.

Dennis Segundo Sanchez

17 Jul 2002

El Carmen de Bolivar, Bolivar department

Radio commentator, shot dead in his home.

Mario Prada Díaz

12 Jul 2002

Sabana de Torres, Santander department

Magazine journalist, his body was found riddled with bullets near to his home. He had recently written an editorial criticising local government.

Rodrigo Alfonso Ahumada

21 June 2002

Santa Marta, Magdalena department

Co-owner of a radio station, he was riding in a press vehicle when a gunman opened the door and shot him twice in the head.

Efraín Varela Noriega

28 Jun 2002

Arauca, Arauca department

Radio commentator, shot dead as he drove to his home. Regularly criticised paramilitaries and had received paramilitary death threats.

Oscar Javier Hoyos Narváez

06 Jun 2002

Popayan, Cauca department

Radio commentator, shot dead after the car in which he was travelling was stopped.

Victor Omar Acosta

14 May 2002

Yumbo, Valle del Cauca department

Radio and newspaper correspondent, shot three times. His family believe his killing was related to his reporting on corruption.

Héctor Sandoval

12 Apr 2002

Cali, Valle department

TV journalist, shot by a Colombian Army helicopter. He died of his injuries the following day.

Walter Lopez

11 Apr 2002

Cali, Valle department

TV journalist, shot dead by a Colombian Army helicopter.

Juan Carlos Gómez Díaz

3 April 2002

Aguachica, Cesar department

Radio reporter, taken away by paramilitaries on April 1st and found dead in a river two days later.

Orlando Sierra Hernández

01 Feb 2002

Manizales, Caldas department

Newspaper reporter, shot whilst walking to work. He had reported on local government corruption and on human rights abuses ordered by a regional politician.

Marco Antonio Ayala Cárdenas

23 Jan 2002

Cali, Valle department

Newspaper photographer, shot whilst leaving a photo developing shop near his office.

Esaú Jaramillo Montaña

19 Jan 2002

Bogota

Radio commentator, stabbed to death in his apartment.