Assessment of the presidential elections: Officials form de Registrar’s Office and Police agents hinder the work of the press

The Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP, for its spanish initials) positively highlighted that during the presidential elections, in both the first and second round, the violations against the press decreased significantly compared to those of the Congress elections. In both dates, seven cases were recorded and most of them were resolved without seriously affecting journalistic work, compared to 11 cases reported last March 9.

However, FLIP calls out to the Registrar’s Office and the National Police, as the officials of these national authorities delayed and created difficulties for the works done by the press, despite the broad campaigns done to publicize the rights and duties of both journalists and public officials during the elections.

The most serious case occurred in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander. In the first round of the presidential elections three policemen prevented a journalist to enter college La Salle, which was adapted as a voting station. Agents warned him that he must have a special permit, but never told him how he could get it. Despite repeated requests made ​​by the journalists to the head of security of the voting station, the officer denied him access. In protest of these facts, the judicial section of the digital diary www.asiescucuta.com was published the next day as a blank page.

In Armenia, Quindio the El Tiempo’s  correspondent was prevented to take photos in the voting booth near the Municipal Hall. Police officers also forced her to show the pictures she had taken and asked to erase all.

After arguing with the police officers, an agent escorted her through the voting station and supervised all the photographs that were taken.