IPI Report, Colombia

     The Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) is the parent organization of the IPI Report, published at the Missouri School of Journalism with the Knight Foundation as its primary sponsor. The first quarter issue of 2000 has just appeared. Among the stories about the world press especially poignant is "Colombian journalists become pawns in armed struggle." The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists says Colombia may replace Algeria as the world's most dangerous place for journalists to work. Since 1989 at least 52 journalists have been murdered. The article gives details of the harassment they constantly suffer. Public demonstrations against the killings seem to have had little effect. Groups around the world, like ETA in Spain, seem to kill without regard for the public's reproaches. I recall the time when Colombia was peaceful, and newspapers like El Tiempo operated without fear, and Bogot'a was known as the Athens of America,

Ronald Hilton - 4/13/00