Journalist forced into hiding after death threats

[Judi Lynn]

Journalist forced into hiding after death threats
Friday, 24 February 2012 17:02
Mary Cecelia Bittner

A Colombian journalist responsible for a video of police violently breaking up a protest is in hiding after receiving multiple death threats.

Bladimir Espitia was forced to go into hiding after the publication of her video on YouTube.

The video depicts a violent action against farmers, fisherman, and environmental activists who have been occupying a spot on the banks of the Magdalena River in opposition of the expropriation of their lands for the building of a hydroelectric plant in southwestern Huilo Department.

The International Federation for the Freedom of Press [FLIP] has demanded that the Colombian government provide protection for the journalist, who received the threats by telephone. The callers threatened Espitia and accused her of being an enemy of the police and the country.

More:
http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/22432-journalist-forced-to-flee-the-country-after-death-threats.html

[Boojatta]

1. Other people wanted to utter death threats but couldn't figure out how to operate a telephone.

The callers threatened Espitia and accused her of being an enemy of the police and the country.

If the police of Colombia are policing Colombia, then aren't they doing investigations, making observations, gathering evidence, and preserving recordings?

Why aren't such police activities grounds for an accusation that the police are enemies of Colombia?

After all, people who participate in a protest don't necessarily have any opportunity to testify in court, but police officers usually do. An ordinary journalist has no more power than an ordinary participant in a protest, except for the power to disclose information that will be distributed to many people.

Why would people who believe they have a good case based on the law of defamation decide to not make that case, but instead commit the crime of uttering death threats?