COMMENTS ON FREEDOM OF PRESS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R001600110001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 13, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For R (ease 1999/09/10 : CIA-RDP83-QO423RO01 600110001 -1
FORM NO
. 51-4B
DEC 1951
U.S. Officials Only
C_,. T""NgWJ AL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT C
COUNTRY Colombia
REPORT NO.
SUBJECT Comments on Freedom of Press
PLACE ACQUIRED
(BY SOURCE)
DATE ACQUIRED
(BY SOURCE)
25X1A6a
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL
OF THE UNITED STATES. WITHIN THEMEANING OF TIT IONS 793
AND 794. OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMEND ANSMISSION OR REVE-
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS T T BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
PROHIBITED BY EPROD CTIO OF THIS REPORT IS PROHIBITED,
RESPONSIVE TO
1
2
CD NO.
OO/C NO.
ORR NO.
DAS N0.
OCI NO.
DATE DISTR.GI{- 51
U
NO. OF PAGES 2
25X1A2g
NO. OF ENCLS.
SUPP. TO 25X1X6
REPORT NO.
1. "Since June 8 the situation of the Colombian Press has become more difficult. I have
waited a while so I would be in a better position to inform you just what are the
causes of the new crisis which doesn't seem any less grave than those we lived
through in the past.
2. "To refresh your memory a little, I give you some details that may be of use in
judging what has happened and which will serve to clarify my idea,
3. During October of last year because of the meeting of the Congreso Nacional de Prensa
(National Press Conference) his Excellency the President suspended the censorship
that had been in effect in the country for about four years. The suspension of
censorship was verbal. Thus the decree of 9 November 1949 establishing censorship
of all publications written in the country went out of operation although without
immediate application. That is to say I believe what I have already said on
occasion - we had liberty but under the sword of Damocles. At whatever moment the
government desired it could re-establish censorship without the necessity of passing
any law
4. "During the last months of the last year and the first of the present, with exceptions
you already know --- censorship of some of the rural newspapers, censorship of the
weekly "La Unidad", orders to directors of newspapers about news items and commen-
taries concerning chiefs of states friendly with Colombia, and every now and then,
an arbitrary order from the Office of Information and Propaganda which are either
rectified or not applied --- the Colombian press has enjoyed freedom.
5. "During the bloody deeds which took place on the eighth and ninth of June and in which
various students perished in the main streets of Bogota, the government imposed cen-
sorship of the press for two days. Afterwards it was suspended. It was re-established
again a few days later through a very forceful note sent to the newspapers "El Tiempo",
"El Espectador" and the "Diario Gr6fico" only. This lasted for two or three days.
However, this freedom was only permitted to "El Espectador" and "El Tiempo" and not
the "Diario Gr~fico" which has been censored since the middle of last month.
U.S. Officials Only
AUG 21 ~v54
Th!s por is or a use w NT-i n e A o he Ti e hgence componen s
o
he epartmentsI or
Agencies indicated above. It is not to be transmitted overseas without
the
concurrence of the
originating office through the Assistant Director of the Office of Collection
and
Dissemination, CIA.
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25X1A2g
/uS OFFICIALS ONLY
6.Yesterday upon the change of rector in the University the newspapers were verbally
ordered to abstain from publishing adverse comments concerning the nomination or
any information concerning the officials making this request. That is to say here
is a concrete case of censorship of the press.
7. But the real gravity of the problem is that the press is subjected to the detgr-
minat ions of the government. At any moment, or in whatever circumstances, orders
can be imparted to the various newspapers about certain happenings, prohibiting
the publication of or commentary concerning the happening. There is liberty
but also there is not. The press of the country has acted with exemplary
responsibility taking into consideration the gravity of the present political
situation and insofar as possibilities permit has vigilantly defended liberty.
I cannot hide from you the fact that we are going through a difficult situation
both politically and from a newspaper point of view. An analysis of the press
situation by an indefendent commission would be very valuable.
8. It is superfluous to tell you that this information is strictly confidential and
owing to the gravity of the situation in which we live, I ask you not to mention
me as the forwarder of this information.
9. 1 hope that a clarification of this situation may soon be achieved.,
TYPE ACT-DATE INFO--FR-BATE A3E(
/us OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 1999/09/10 : CIA-RDP83-00423RO01 600110001 -1