Colombia: CFWIJ Condemns Police Brutality Against Journalists Katy Sánchez And Alexandra Molina
Location: Colombia, Bogota
Date: June 29, 2021
Police viciously attacked Katy Sánchez and Alexandra Molina, reporters of Colombian independent RCN Radio, while they were covering anti-government protests in the capital, Bogota. Security forces impeded journalists from filming the protests and beat them. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns police brutality against journalists. We demand the Colombian authorities conduct a full investigation into the use of disproportionate force and to ensure the safety of journalists. Journalists must freely do their job.
On June 29, Colombian police attacked Katy Sánchez, a reporter for the independent broadcaster RCN Radio, and Alexandra Molina, an intern, while they were following anti-government protests in the capital, Bogotá. The anti-riot police unit, known as ESMAD, beat and impeded the journalists filming the incident.
Katy and Alexandra were physically assaulted while covering the demonstrations and prevented filming the cops beating and kicking a youth on a bicycle. In the video filmed by Alexandra, two journalists were urging the police to stop beating the teenager. Thereafter the officers were in the scene approaching the journalists.
#AlertaFLIP | La FLIP rechaza la agresión física que sufrieron hoy las periodistas de @rcnradio Alexandra Molina y @katysanchezCE, por parte de agentes del ESMAD, mientras cubrían las manifestaciones en la localidad de Suba en Bogotá.
— FLIP (@FLIP_org) June 29, 2021
🧵 Abrimos hilo. 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/jFyxNFNBu7
Despite explaining they were reporters to the ESMAD, forces continued to attack reporters. As a result of the assault, Katy was injured and treated at the hospital.
After the incident, Bogota Police Commander Óscar Gómez said in a video he shared on Twitter that three police officers involved in attacks on journalists and the child were dismissed. Gómez said, "We reject this erratic behaviour and apologize to journalists. We reject the excessive use of force."
Ante inaceptable actuación de miembros del Escuadrón Móvil Antidisturbios este martes en #Suba, el Comandante de la Policía Metropolitana de Bogotá anuncia las primeras decisiones sobre este caso, que ha sido priorizado por la Institución. No toleraremos violaciones a los DD.HH. pic.twitter.com/CrZjT1dweh
— Brigadier General Eliecér Camacho Jiménez (@PoliciaBogota) June 29, 2021
In response to this video, Bogota Mayor Claudia López stated that the attack on journalists was "unacceptable". “What happened today is unacceptable. The ESMAD members who abused force were dismissed and are immediately under investigation.” López quoted.
Rechazamos y tomamos medidas inmediatas sobre todo abuso de autoridad y acto de violencia.
— Claudia López 👍 (@ClaudiaLopez) June 29, 2021
Lo ocurrido hoy en Suba es inaceptable. Los miembros del ESMAD que abusaron de la fuerza fueron retirados y entran en investigación inmediatamente.
Bogotá y su ciudadania Se Respetan! https://t.co/PWD2SzJw9H
The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the authorities' immediate action and investigation into journalists. However, we urge that the security forces must provide safe environments for journalists to do their jobs. Physical assaults against journalists are unacceptable. Journalists should be able to do their jobs freely in safe places. We demand the authorities conduct the investigation with due diligence and impose the necessary sanctions against the police officers who use excessive force.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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