Two in Colombia Charged in Killing (2 politicians charged, one dead journalist)

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times/Associated Press

Two in Colombia Charged in Killing

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 14, 2007

BOGOTÁ, Colombia, Sept. 13 (AP) — Two Colombian politicians were arrested Thursday and charged in the killing in 2003 of a journalist who had reported on ties between government officials and illegal paramilitaries.

Juan Pablo Ariza, who is running for city council in the northern city of Barrancabermeja, and Abelardo Rueda Tobón, a legislative candidate in Santander State, are accused of involvement in the murder of the journalist, José Emeterio Rivas, the federal prosecutor’s office said.

Mr. Rivas, a commentator on Calor Estéreo radio, was killed in April 2003 after reporting on links between the municipal government in Barrancabermeja and right-wing militia groups that dominated the region.

The two were arrested as part of the murder investigation in October 2003 but were released.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/14/world/americas/14colombia.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin

[Judi Lynn]

1. 2 held in slaying of Colombian reporter

2 held in slaying of Colombian reporter

Local politicians are arrested in the 2003 death of Jose Emeterio Rivas, who had accused local officials of ties to paramilitaries.
By Chris Kraul, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 14, 2007


BOGOTA, COLOMBIA -- -- Colombian authorities on Thursday arrested two local politicians in connection with the April 2003 killing of Jose Emeterio Rivas, a radio reporter who had denounced links between local government and paramilitary groups.

The arrests in the northern city of Barrancabermeja were welcomed by rights groups that have long complained of official impunity in Colombia. Last March, the Inter American Press Assn. slammed the Colombian government for suspending investigations into the slayings of five journalists.

With its mix of cocaine traffickers, paramilitary groups and leftist guerrillas, Colombia often has been classified as one of the world's most perilous countries for journalists. At least 130 Colombian journalists have been killed since 1988, according to the press association. Ten were killed in 2003, the year of Rivas' slaying. Since then, such killings have declined, and only one was reported this year.

Rivas, 44, moderated a popular show in which he often alleged malfeasance by city hall to benefit what was then the nation's largest paramilitary group, the Central Bolivar Bloc. Investigations into alleged government ties with paramilitary groups have led to the arrest of 13 legislators, nearly all of them close allies of President Alvaro Uribe.

More:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-colombia14sep14,1,2664332.story?coll=la-news-a_section