SRFOE condemns the murder of the journalist Óscar Gómez Agudelo in Colombia and urges the authorities to investigate the facts effectively and find those responsible

February 4, 2025

Washington, D.C. – The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder of the journalist and politician Óscar Gómez Agudelo, and calls on the Colombian authorities to continue the investigations in an exhaustive, impartial and diligent manner, considering his journalistic work as a possible motive for the crime, in order to clarify the facts and identify and punish those responsible.

According to public reports, on January 24, 2025, the murder of journalist Óscar Gómez Agudelo was recorded in Armenia, Quindío. He was attacked by an unidentified subject who shot him with a firearm as he was on his way to the Rumba del Café 92.1 FM radio station.

Journalist Gómez Agudelo directed and presented the radio program “La Comunidad por la Comunidad” broadcast by Rumba del Café 92.1 FM, as well as the “Infórmate Quindío” portal on Facebook, where he addressed issues such as public administration, alleged acts of corruption and illegal economies. According to reports from civil society organizations, the journalist had previously received threats related to his journalistic work.

In turn, the Rapporteur's Office recorded the statements of the representative of the Armenian Government Secretariat, who pointed out that there were no records of previous threats against the journalist. Likewise, this Office takes note of the progress of the investigations by the Colombian authorities, which include the recovery of information, photographic recognition and the taking of sworn statements from witnesses by the Sectional Prosecutor's Office of the Life Unit of the Sectional Directorate of Quindío. Also recorded was the announcement by the Secretary of the Interior of Quindío regarding the location of the motorcycle used by the alleged perpetrators, the creation of a special agency of the Inspector General's Office to intervene in the criminal proceedings for the murder of the journalist, and the convening of an Extraordinary Security Council in the Government of Quindío to publicize the progress of the investigation. National and departmental authorities have condemned the crime, and the government of Quindío, together with the mayor's office of the municipality of Armenia, have offered a reward of 100 million pesos (approximately 25,000 USD) for information leading to the capture of those responsible.

In this regard, the SRFOE recalls that the murder of journalists is the most extreme form of censorship, violates the fundamental rights of individuals and severely restricts freedom of expression. Furthermore, it has a chilling effect and silences other press workers. As established in Principle 9 of the IACHR's Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, “it is the duty of the state to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish their perpetrators and to ensure that victims receive due compensation”.

In view of the above, the Special Rapporteur urges the authorities to continue investigating these incidents and punish those responsible, as well as to take urgent and comprehensive measures to strengthen the protection of journalists at risk, providing them with maximum guarantees so that they can carry out their work in a free and safe environment, without fear of reprisals.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression was created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to promote the defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression throughout the Americas, in view of its fundamental role in the consolidation and development of democracy.

No. R032/25

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