Social leader and journalist murdered in northwestern Colombia

Colombian journalist and social leader Rafael Emiro Moreno Garavito was assassinated in the municipality of Montelíbano, Córdoba, reported the Institute of Studies for Development and Peace (Indepaz). Attacks against the press are frequent cases in Colombia and in 2021 alone, 684 murders were documented.

“The investigative journalist Rafael Moreno was the current director of the digital media outlet Voces de Córdoba and was murdered by assassins in the 27 de Julio neighborhood of the municipality of Montelíbano,” the organization published.

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Indepaz added that, according to local media, “a few months ago they had withdrawn his protection scheme assigned by the UNP (National Protection Unit), which had been granted due to the death threats he had received on different occasions.”

For its part, the Cordoberxia social foundation reported that the journalist, who was also a community leader in a neighborhood in the municipality of Puerto Libertador, was carrying out “several investigations with criminal and disciplinary complaints.”

“We demand the truth, the full truth, JUSTICE, comprehensive reparation and guarantees of NO Repetition,” the foundation published on its social networks.

The Ombudsman’s Office also spoke out and promised to support the investigations into the murder.

“We reject the murder of Rafael Moreno, journalist and director of Voces de Córdoba, attacked by armed men in Montelíbano. Our Southern Region of Córdoba is following up on the case to provide the necessary support,” they posted on Twitter.

He also urged the authorities “to investigate it quickly.”

With information from Sputnik

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