Condemning murder of Colombian cameraman, UNESCO chief urges probe

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom called today for an investigation into the death of Colombian television journalist killed in Buenaventura, a city he had fled earlier this year after receiving death threats.

“I condemn the assassination of Yonni Steven Caicedo,” the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, said in news release.

“Criminals must not be allowed to use violence to stop journalists from doing their work and deprive society of news and information,” Ms. Bokova added.

According to Colombian Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP), unidentified men shot dead Mr. Caicedo on 19 February.

The 21-year-old was working as a cameraman with local television stations ‘TV Noticias’ and ‘Más Noticias.’

His name will be included this year on UNESCO’s dedicated webpage for journalists killed in the line of duty.