Giornalista indipendente ucciso in Colombia

Juan Carlos Benavides, a journalist at the community radio Manantial
Stereo in Putumayo, Colombia was murdered on August 22. Juan Carlos was
a well known community communicator in the region, always trying to
support community participation and social journalism. He was an active
member of the CRIS campaign (Communication Rights in the Information
Society) coordinated in Colombia by the local NGO Planeta Paz.


Juan Carlos was assassinated on August 22, 2003 at an illegal road-block
set up by the guerrilla organization FARC. The guerrilla opened fire
when the vehicle in which Juan Carlos traveled did not stop. Conrado
Juajibioi, another journalist working at the same radio station, was
also wounded but is now in better condition.


The life of a popular communicator is silenced, and with it, the
possibility of diverse voices of this community affected by conflict. To
reach Olga Beatriz Gutierrez, from Planeta Paz, member of OURMedia and
CRIS Colombia Coordinator: olgag@planetapaz.org.


Translated from Spanish by OURMedia/NuestrosMedios
a global network of activists, academics, and practitioners
working toward stronger alternative, community, and citizens' media.