Journalist shot dead in Yumbo, Colombia

On Wednesday August 9, two unknown gunmen on motorcycles shot and killed journalist Milton Fabián Sánchez in the industrial city of Yumbo in southern Colombia.

At about 10:30 pm, Sanchez who worked for radio station Yumbo Estéreo, was intercepted by unidentified armed men as he was heading home. Sanchez was shot twice and died of his wounds.

Sanchez, 37, married and the father of two, worked for various radio stations and according to his family and friends, he had not received any threats.

In 2004 Sanchez began working for Yumbo Estéreo, directing institutional programs such as “Notas de Gestión” (Management Notes) from the Mayor’s office in Yumbo and “La Personería” (Legal Entity). He also had a community program called “Mesa Redonda” (Round Table), in which he approached political topics.

Sánchez had worked as the press secretary for the Mayor’s office during a previous administration and had a good relationship with the current press secretary. He was also the master of ceremonies for events organized by the local administration.

Sanchéz studied public management in the Public Management Superior School, ESAP.

This is the second journalist killed in Colombia this year. During 2005, two journalists were killed, 69 threatened, one kidnapped and the premises of six media organizations were attacked.

The IFJ Solidarity Center (Ceso-FIP) in Colombia is deeply saddened by the death of Milton Fabian Sánchez and expresses its condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Ceso-FIP calls on authorities to carry out a full investigation of this case and investigate the 140 cases of Colombian journalists killed with impunity during the last 15 years.

Center of Solidarity
International Federation of Journalists
Ceso-FIP