Activist shot in ‘death warning’
THE NUJ has joined its sister union in Colombia to condemn the murder of radio journalist Manuel Arturo Macías Cerrera on Colombia’s national journalists’ day.
He was shot as he was going home on February 9 in Algeciras, central Colombia. A founding member of the Journalists’ Association of Huila, part of the Colombian Federation of Journalists, he was also the sole opposition councillor on Algeciras council.
Eduardo Márquez, President of the federation, said: “The cowards who shot our colleague were sending us a death message when we were celebrating Colombia’s Day of the Journalist.
“We got the message. We will double our efforts to ensure our safety throughout the country, but also be increasingly alert in keeping an eye on the intolerant, be they corrupt politicians, paramilitary groups, guerrillas, corrupt state agents or organised crime groups.”
The NUJ has strong ties with the federation and assisted in its formation last year