Thousands of Colombian journalists gathered yesterday on may 2 and marched in cities across the country. They marched because they were asking the Colombian government for protection and guarantees for their work and they decided to do it yesterday as the World Press Freedom Day was happening.
The secretary of the Colombian Federation of Journalists Glemis Mogollon said that what the principal reason of why reporters decided to go out and march for their rights was because all the threats that they receive daily against the practice of journalism in the country. In 2011 there have been more than 56 attacks on journalists in Colombia in which twenty-three were threatened, two attempted murders, ten obstructions to journalism and eight physical attacks.
Reporters marched wearing white t-shirts and blouses and some of them with tape on their mouths as a symbol of silence and the threats against freedom of expression.
The most recognized channels of the country gave spaces during the day to cover the event and to promote the freedom of expression.
Reporters that work in diverse areas of journalism like radio, Television, Magazines and Newspapers gave a message to the Colombians about the importance and necessity that there is to have the freedom to communicate and to inform the world and the nation of everything that happens in the country.
Since 1987 a total of 147 journalists have been murdered in Colombia according to investigative reports. I really think this is a relevant number and that Colombian reporters have all the right to ask for protection. As a student that is pursuing a degree in journalism and as a Colombian for me it’s really frustrating to know all the injustice and violence that is happening in the country and what it hurts me the most is also knowing that one of the functions that we as reporters have is to tell the truth and to be the voice of our people and knowing that you can even die for doing that in a way cut your journalist wings. I know that I definitely want to have a positive impact in people lives and I want to help them to improve their lives through my stories and if that means that I need to take a chance and be in risk, then I will die happy knowing that I did my part.
