After the publication of Semana Magazine related to the videos of the Historical Pact, which revealed the political strategies used in the campaign, the Foundation for Press Freedom -Flip- He asked political leaders not to stigmatize journalists who are carrying out a job.
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According to Flip, the comments made by Roy Barreras, Gustavo Petro and Inti Asprilla put press freedom at risk.
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The media do not have prohibited sources of information and suggesting the elimination of the material, as Barreras did, constitutes an act of censorship that is inadmissible under Colombian law.
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“Several of these messages seek to sow doubt about the legality of that publication and stigmatize the media by questioning its editorial decision to publish the content,” emphasized the Flip, while stating that officials and people with visibility “should not interfere with the editorial independence of the media by giving them orders about what to publish and what not to publish”.
“The publication of the recordings is a legitimate journalistic exercise that does not constitute a crime. The media do not have prohibited sources of information and to suggest the elimination of the material, as Barreras did, constitutes an act of censorship that is inadmissible under Colombian law,” reads the foundation’s statement.
(Also read: Roy Barreras responds to videos where he talks about ‘dividing’ campaigns)
They also stated that officials and people with visibility “They must not interfere with the editorial independence of the media by giving them orders about what to publish and what not to publish.”
Regarding the comments of Petro and Asprilla, about the alleged political interests of the Semana Magazine to publish the videos, the entity indicates that “they feed the hostility against the press that has intensified in the elections.”
This year, for example, the Flip has reported 42 aggressions related to electoral coverage and that have made this the most violent period of the last decade.
Finally, the Flip reiterated a call to leaders, candidates and political parties to refrain from attacking or amplifying violence against the press, and thus affect public debate.
“We insist that Twitter is not the ideal setting to process or share your disagreements with the media, for this there are constitutional channels and guarantors of freedom of expression,” he said.
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