H. E. Ernesto Samper Pizano
President of Colombia
Vienna, 3 March 1998

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the killing of former radio journalist Didier Aristizabal in the Colombian city of Cali.

Aristizabal, 32, a well-known reporter for Todelar and other local radio stations, was gunned down by unidentified assailants on Monday, 2 March 1998, as he left the Santiago de Cali University where he taught.

There has been to date no claim of responsibility, but IPI fears that he may have been killed as a direct result of his work with the National Police in helping them to set up their own FM news radio station in Cali late last year.

IPI, the global network of editors and media executives, urges Your Excellency to ensure an immediate and thorough investigation into Aristizabal’s death and to ensure that the Colombian government takes all possible steps to guarantee the safety of journalists working in Colombia.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director