María Efigenia Vásquez Astudillo, Colombia

María Efigenia Vásquez Astudillo, a reporter with indigenous community radio station, Renacer Kokonuko 90.7 FM, was struck and killed by a projectile on Oct. 8, 2017 while covering clashes between indigenous community members and police in the department of Cauca in south-western Colombia. Members of the Kokonuko indigenous community – to which Vásquez reportedly also belonged – were protesting a private company’s presence on land protestors viewed as ancestral territory. News reports indicated that she was struck by a projectile launched from a firearm, but it was unclear by whom the object was launched.

 

Become a member

IPI membership is open to anyone active in the field of journalism, in news media outlets, as freelancers, in schools of journalism or in defence of press freedom rights, who supports the principle of freedom of the press and desires to co-operate in achieving IPI’s objectives.

Become a member

Latest