The media is used and manipulated by terrorists to instill fear on the Colombian people, President Juan Manuel Santos said Friday, claiming that “if there were no media, there would be no terrorism.”
According to the president, illegal armed group like the FARC actively involve local media to amplify the impact of terrorist attacks and the apparent strength of their organization, consequently imposing terror.
We have seen this not on one but on many occasions, that they first
call certain reporters and say 'we're going to launch a tatuco [,a
gas cylinder,] here in [the municipality of] Jambalo or we are
going to carry out an operation in Toribio, come and film.
You have seen it on television, what coincidence, these journalists
sure are very effective, because they arrive where they are at the
right time. They do their corresponding interview. Some great
journalists, very efficient men.
No. Often times they are warned. Obviously the journalist goes
because it's his job, his duty. I am not criticizing the journalist.
In some way they are using and manipulating him, this is certain.
But they have become very skilled in that sense. So they magnify
their actions.
This is what terrorism is about. If there were no media, there would
be no terrorism. Hear me well, if there were no media, there would
be no terrorism. I am not saying -- don't misinterpret me -- that
the media are guilty of terrorism. No. But terrorism lives off
generating terror, that's why it's called terrorism.
Santos insisted that the increase in attacks by the FARC “is a sign of weakness, because they have no military advantage.”