E/CN.4/2001/21
page 30
C. Colombia
1. Communication by the Special Rapporteur dated 6 October 2000
83.
These are some extracts of the Special Rapporteur’s communication:
“Allegations concerning language racism in the media and the neutrality of the
Colombian authorities
1.
In the press and in some magazines.
‘The friends of the President’ … ‘Any professional journalist - including the
Black Perea - has a legitimate right to want his own space …’ (Contraescape
column of the Daily El Tiempo, Enrique Santos Calderón, 13 March 1997).
‘The final night of the contest’ … ‘the Chocó candidate is hoping to be queen
because she has got everything (lovely body and face, shame about the nose and
hair) and because she is black’ … (El Tiempo, Monday, 11 November 1996).
‘Band of degenerate Blacks’ … ‘the Blacks, like all loud-mouthed Blacks,
are leading gullible girls astray with their deafening music’ … (El Espacio,
Tuesday, 8 October 1996).
‘Hamilton Ricard the demolisher’ … ‘Is he happy to be Chocoan and black? … If
he could be born again, would he choose to be the same?’ (Diario Deportivo,
13 April 1997).
2.
On radio
‘O.K., the topic of the day is, would you kiss a Negro? … they say people would
rather kiss a homosexual than a Black …’ (‘Temprano es más bacano’
programme on the Olímpica Estéreo channel, 13 October 1998).
‘Hasn’t anybody told that lazy dumb Black Ricard that you don’t mark from the
front …’ (‘Línea de ataque’ programme on Radio Super, Iván Mejía Álvarez,
12 July 1999).
3.
On television
‘And being so small, ugly and black, you really think you are going to be elected
councillor …’ (Harold Lozada, 7 o’clock news, 5 September 1997).
‘ … Leider Preciado is a nice chap … he is a nice little Black, you know what I
mean? … and nice people, who are also hard working and score goals, are always
welcome anywhere …’ (Carlos Antonio Velez, ‘La FM’ programme, on RCN, 13
April 1998).