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| Title | Demonstration today in support of journalist kidnapped five days ago at mock roadblock |
| Publisher | Reporters Without Borders |
| Country | Colombia |
| Publication Date | 22 February 2008 |
| Cite as | Reporters Without Borders, Demonstration today in support of journalist kidnapped five days ago at mock roadblock, 22 February 2008, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/47c533dc1e.html [accessed 27 May 2012] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Demonstration today in support of journalist kidnapped five days ago at mock roadblock
Reporters Without Borders voices its support for a demonstration today by local media journalists in the northern department of La Guajira to demand the release of Mario Alfonso Puello, who works for Radio Delfín, TV Norte and the regional daily La Noticia. Puello was kidnapped along with two other people on a road near the Venezuelan border on 17 February.
"So far there is no information confirming that Puello's abduction is linked to his work as a journalist but the Atlantic coast region is a high-risk one for the press and we full support the demonstration by La Guajira's journalists," the press freedom organisation said. "We also express our complete solidarity with Puello's family and friends and we urge the authorities to do everything possible to ensure he is quickly and safely recovered."
Puello was kidnapped at around 3:40 p.m. on 17 February at Dibuya, a locality near the Venezuelan border on the road linking the cities of Santa Marta and Riohacha. He was returning home with university academic Aldo Brito Carillo, Brito's brother-in-law, Maicol Mendoza, and their driver, Jhon Romero, after a day of teaching adults to read and write.
Everyone in the car, except Brito, was kidnapped when they were forced to stop at a roadblock that appeared to be manned by solders as they had uniforms and used fluorescent traffic cones. Brito, who managed to escape, made no mention any previous threat. The authorities said they do not know if an armed group was responsible for the kidnapping.
As well as being a journalist, Puello works for the literacy programme for adults and local indigenous communities created by the Open and Distance University (UNAD), of which Brito is the rector. Puello has 10 children.
La Guajira's journalists, who will be staging a street demonstration today, say they do not think Puello was kidnapped for ransom because he is not very well off.
Topics: Freedom of speech, Freedom of information, Freedom of expression,
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