Colombia top court: State responsible for satirist's murder
Colombia top court: State responsible for satirist's murder
Sep 14, 7:38 PM EDT
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- Colombia's top administrative court has ruled the state was responsible for the murder of a beloved satirist and peacemaker more than a decade ago.
Jaime Garzon was shot in the head by motorcycle gunmen on his way to work at a radio station in downtown Bogota. His 1999 slaying shocked Colombians, who looked to the journalist as a trusted intermediary with leftist rebels at a time of rising political violence.
In a ruling Wednesday, the Council of the State said a former army colonel and deputy director of the now-extinct DAS intelligence agency carried out illegal wiretaps on Garzon and shared the information with paramilitary bosses opposed to the humorist's peace efforts.
The court ordered the state to pay around $235,000 to Garzon's family for damages.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_COLOMBIA_MURDERED_SATIRIST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-09-14-19-38-46
(Short article, no more at link.)
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Jaime wrapped himself in the Colombian flag.
One of his very famous routines, a shoeshine boy who interviewed famous
people, ncluding people of the military. Highly popular with Colombian audiences.
"Jaime Garzon was killed while in his car on Friday. He had recently received death threats from right-wing paramilitary militias." [/center]
Sunday, August 15, 1999 Published at 12:42 GMT 13:42 UK
World: Americas
Picture gallery: Mourning Jaime Garzon
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/421030.stm
= new reply since forum marked as read
Murder of Colombian Journalist Was 'Extrajudicial Execution'
Published 16 September 2016
Colombia's Council of State determined that state officials encouraged the murder of Jaime Garzon as part of a systematic violation of human rights.
Colombia's Council of State ruled that the killing of Jaime Garzon, a well-regarded journalist and activist, was a “crime against humanity” and an “extrajudicial execution” perpetuated by the state and ordered compensation be paid to his relatives.
Garzon was killed in 1999 by paramilitaries who were acting on information provided to them by state security officials.
In its ruling published Wednesday, the country's highest administrative court said that Garzon's murder was the “product of a systematic violation of human rights and the persecution of those who targeted some leftist leaders.”
More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Murder-of-Colombian-Journalist-Was-Extrajudicial-Execution-20160916-0008.html
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Jaime Garzon and sister Marisol, as children
Marisol, visiting the memorial dedicated to her brother, Jaime Garzon. [/center]
