Colombia Acuerdo de Paz NGO and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) express our deep concern about the lack of decisive action by Colombian authorities, U.S. and international and regional mechanisms, and global and national organizations mandated to defend freedom of expression regarding the media outlet La Nueva Prensa.
As we have previously denounced, since 2022, judicial attacks and threats against La Nueva Prensa and its team have increased. On November 7, 2024, Barranquilla’s 11th criminal judge issued a contempt ruling against La Nueva Prensa. This is related to one of the 29 cases involving Mr. Carlos Mattos, serving a prison sentence of 15 and a half years. This decision will place Gonzalo Guillen, journalist, and Mauricio Roberto Rodríguez, legal representative and lawyer for the Barranquilla cases, in jail for 3 days or more. It also comes with a fine of four minimum monthly salaries, equivalent to $1,360 dollars. According to La Nueva Prensa, the individual deprived of his freedom is bribing judges and magistrates to obstruct and silence their journalistic work. Mr. Mattos is precisely serving a sentence for corruption in Barranquilla (Colombia). Also, on November 8, an assailant fired shots at Frederikt Barros, the substitute lawyer representing La Nueva Prensa, in the defense against judicial harassment in several courts in Barranquilla.
Our organizations have repeatedly denounced the judicial harassment and the high-security risk the La Nueva Prensa team faces. We’ve directed these to the Colombian and U.S. authorities, regional entities, and organizations dedicated to defending the right to free expression and journalism. We have not seen any firm and forceful action on the matter. We are concerned that the lack of action is facilitating the continued and systematic attack, putting the lives of members of La Nueva Prensa and their families at risk.
For this reason, we demand that the judicial persecution, censorship, and other harassment of this media and its staff cease. We urge the authorities, mechanisms, and organizations to stop the unjust judicial harassment faced by this entity and ensure the safety of its team and staff’s families. At the same time, the judicial authorities should investigate and punish those responsible for this smear campaign against La Nueva Prensa.
