Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 20:11:39 -0400
From: mmclean-AT-usaor.net (megan mclean)
Subject: Re: AUT: Colombia Popular


>Colombia Popular - Servicio Informativo del Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional
>
>Who We Are And What We Want
>
>     In contrary to what is spread by official sources, there is
>no freedom of speech or press in Colombia. The media is in the
>hands of the big enterprises and the two government parties. The
>Samper administration is trying to tighten up the control of the
>television by means of a new media law. Furthermore, critical
>journalists are the victims of death threats and attempts on
>their lives. Those who report about paramilitarism, the
>repression by the army, or about government crimes are targeted
>by right-wing forces. In the past years there have been a number
>of attacks against the weekly publication 'La Voz Popular' which
>is close to the Communist Party. Several contributors have been
>shot, and even street vendors of the paper are subject to
>attacks.
>     It is virtually impossible to establish alternative media
>under these conditions, where information is a crime. Many
>magazines and press agencies had to be shut down because they
>couldn't withstand anymore to the everyday repression in
>Colombia. Because of these experiences, we have come to the
>conclusion that an alternative news service can only function
>outside of Colombia. The only media we have to reach the
>Colombian and the international public under these circumstances
>is the Internet. We, the Colombian opposition, do not have at our
>disposal an American government which funds with millions and
>millions of dollars a TV channel or a Radio Marti. We do not even
>have enough international support to be able to finance a weekly
>publication abroad. We can only count on ourselves, that is on
>our convictions and our abilities. Therefore we turn to you via
>Internet and hope that you will pass on the news and opinions
>presented here to your friends and relatives.
>Information Service Of The ELN
>
>     Colombia Popular is the information service of the Ejercito
>de Liberacion Nacional (ELN - National Liberation Army), an armed
>organization which has been fighting for a more just, democratic,
>and humane society since 1964. But that doesn't mean Colombia
>Popular is merely the voice of the ELN. Colombia Popular is an
>initiative serving the oppressed majority. We want to publish
>news about the Colombian opposition - the unions and indigenas,
>black people and women, the residents of poor neighborhoods and
>human rights activists, political prisoners and neighborhood
>militias. We offer our service for all those who know that
>changing the Colombian society is not the task of the guerilla
>alone. To meet these expectations we depend on your support also.
>Write us if you want information that might be interesting for
>you. Announce human rights violations in Colombia or inform us if
>you hear about oppositional activities that are not published by
>the media. Also, we are interested in your opinion about our
>work. If you want to contribute to the discussion about the New
>Colombia, send us your mail.
>
>Colombia Popular
>Tommy Weissbeckerhaus
>Wilhelmstrasse 9
>10963 Berlin
>GERMANY
>
>http://www.berlinet.de/eln




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