Colombian authorities are investigating the death of a journalist found dead in a northwestern region of the country plagued by armed groups and drug traffickers. Mateo Pérez's body was discovered in a rural area of the Antioquia department, a territory regularly shaken by clashes related to control of cocaine trafficking routes.
President Gustavo Petro denounced a possible assassination linked to the activities of criminal organizations operating in that part of Colombia. The exact circumstances of the tragedy remain unclear, but several local media outlets point out that the journalist was working on sensitive topics related to armed violence and illegal networks in the region.
A profession constantly exposed to violence
The death of Mateo Pérez has reignited concerns about the safety of Colombian journalists, particularly in remote areas where guerrillas, FARC dissidents, paramilitary groups, and drug cartels operate. Reporters Without Borders reiterates that threats and assassinations targeting the press remain frequent despite the protection measures put in place by the state.
In recent years, several journalists have been killed after investigating local corruption, trafficking, or armed groups. The resurgence of violence in various regions of the country further jeopardizes the work of reporters, in a context where the government of Gustavo Petro is struggling to contain the escalating clashes between rival criminal organizations.
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