BOGOTA- The “attacks” by Colombian President Gustavo Petro against journalists critical of his government represent a “threat” to press freedom and the integrity of reporters, the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) denounced on Tuesday.
The IAPA’s warning comes after a series of posts on social media by the president against journalist María Jimena Duzán, who reported on an alleged network of irregular contracts associated with the brother of the president’s right-hand woman, Laura Sarabia.
The president called the work “Mossad journalism,” a reference to Israel’s national intelligence agency, prompting criticism from several reporters.
Following these comments, the IAPA expressed its “concern and alarm at the escalation of verbal attacks” and urged the president to “show tolerance in the face of criticism” from the press.
Petro’s “attitude” “represents a threat to press freedom and the integrity of journalists,” the organization added in a statement.
Freedom of the press
Over the weekend, the Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP), which rallied in support of journalist Duzán, claimed that the president is trying to “discredit and stigmatize the work of journalists” and urged the president to “promote an optimal climate for the exercise of journalistic work.”
In response, Petro lashed out at the NGO, saying it was defending “slander disguised as information” and accused the media of “promoting political propaganda in favor of the extreme right.”
At odds with traditional media since his inauguration in August 2022, the ruler often communicates through social media, especially X.
Source: With information from AFP
