Colombian Journalist Jaime Vasquez Murdered

Jaime Vazquez, a Colombian journalist and social activist, was murdered in Cucuta on Sunday, April 14. He was known in the North Santander Region for denouncing repeated acts of corruption involving irregularities in public contracts, which Vazquez made known to the public in the region. 

Violence against journalists continues to escalate in Colombia. Cities like Cali, Arauca, and Cucuta are still some of the most dangerous for those who report the news. According to the Foundation For Freedom of the Press, 2 journalists have been killed in the country as of April 2024, while 131 journalists have seen their lives threatened. This situation has prompted authorities across the country to be on high alert.

Colombia’s legacy of murdered journalists

The Foundation For Freedom of the Press has recorded 168 journalists’ deaths in Colombia since 1976. Jaime Garzon’s murder stands out as a high-profile case of violence. On August 13, 1999, two gunmen on a motorcycle shot Garzón five times while he was driving to work. This murder sent shockwaves through the nation, leading to the immediate arrest of the assassins.

People widely believe that José Miguel Narváez, a former top official of Colombia’s now-disbanded intelligence agency, masterminded Garzón’s murder. According to reports, Narváez convinced right-wing paramilitary death squads to kill Garzón for allegedly collaborating with leftist guerrillas This incident remains the highest-profile journalist assassination in Colombia’s history. 

President Petro commented on the murder of Jaime Vasquez on his X account, calling for an in-depth investigation:

In Cucuta, authorities have set a reward of USD 18,000 for information that might help to find the perpetrators of this crime. It is crucial for Colombia, as a democracy, to guarantee the safety of journalists and the press. Many experts state that the backbone of a stable democracy is a stable and secure press.