By Mayra Báez Jimeno
Daniel Suárez Pérez, 28, knows the risks of reporting on the conflict in Colombia. Journalists reporting on the conflict are in the line of fire – literally, in the field, and figuratively, whenever they write an article unfavourable to one side. More than 150 journalists have been assassinated in the country since 1977, showed data from press freedom group FLIP.
His investigative reports on the conflict and its impact on civilians have put him on the frontline of battles between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebel group and the government, sometimes endangering his life. Suárez now works developing apps that help fight corruption and promoting education.
Q: What challenges do Colombian journalists face in terms of press freedom?
A: Each week at least one journalist is assaulted in Colombia. The players in this are diverse—they range from illegal players to legal ones. Sometimes it’s the mayors who put journalists at risk, sometimes it’s armed groups like the FARC guerrillas who don’t like when journalists report on attacks against the population.
Journalists always are at risk if we end up investigating something. We’re in the middle of a conflict and anything related to the conflict involves someone who has perpetrated violence, or an armed group. For example, whenever a journalist investigates corruption , threats, intimidation and assassinations will follow.
Q: Have you ever felt the need to self-censor when you’re reporting on sensitive topics for this reason?
A: If one is courageous and wants to show the realities, and wants to exercise this power that we get from journalism to make visible many things that happen in society, encourage transparency and hold people accountable — preferred over self-censorship, which is what one does to protect oneself, is to say things carefully. There are very courageous journalists in Colombia who want to do this kind of hard work, and what’s really needed here is for public institutions to protect them.
Q: Have you ever worried about possible repercussions from your reporting?
A: Rather than censoring yourself, what you ask yourself is: ‘What will happen after? What am I trying to achieve with this? What guarantees do I have to publish it?’ (You ask) whether it’s worth waiting on, or if it’s something (that if published) quickly could put the sources at risk.
Q: What are the challenges for the media if a peace accord is eventually signed?
A: We’ll have to continue to be courageous, to tell stories, to be imaginative and creative, to reach more people and to find how to make people want to learn about the story of the conflict. I think it’s necessary that people know about the conflict. In order to look for a solution, we must all find it together.
