Colombia prepares to go to polls in election shadowed by resurgence of political violence
Colombia is heading to the polls for a presidential election marked by intense political polarization and a resurgence of armed conflict. The article highlights the dangers faced by journalists covering these volatile regions, exemplified by the story of a young reporter in Antioquia.
Why it matters
The election represents a critical turning point for Colombia's stability and its ongoing efforts to manage decades of internal armed conflict.
Sunday’s presidential vote is contest between left and right – and between contradictory proposals for dealing with the decades-long armed conflict Mateo Pérez Rueda was one internship away from completing a degree in political science. The 24-year-old also worked as a bicycle delivery rider and sold fruit salads and juice to finance his passion: the Colombian independent digital magazine El Confidente . On 4 May he travelled to Briceño, in the western province of Antioquia, to report on the long-running conflict between the army, paramilitaries and dissidents of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). Continue reading...
The reporting focuses on the human element and the objective reality of the security situation without favoring a specific political candidate.
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