Journalist Mateo Pérez Rueda, director of the information site “El Confidente de Yarumal”, missing since Tuesday in the Antioquia region, in the north-west of the country, was found dead in Colombia. The news was confirmed by the Foundation for Freedom of the Press (Flip), which condemned the murder, denouncing threats against the press in areas controlled by armed groups.
The reporter, 25 years old, was reporting on the clashes between FARC dissidents and the Gulf Clan, two armed organizations that operate in the area and are dedicated to drug trafficking.
According to Flip, Pérez was “an essential voice for the local community” and was under pressure for his investigations into the illegal economy and the presence of armed groups. Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez had announced a military operation to search for the journalist in recent days.
According to Flip, at least 170 journalists have been murdered in Colombia since 1977, in a context marked by drug trafficking, illegal mining and extortion in rural areas controlled by armed organizations.