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.
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