Martín La Rotta
Year: 2004
Nationality: Colombia
Killed by: Local Residents
Location: San Alberto, Colombia
Press organization: La Palma Estéreo
What's Martín La Rotta's story?
La Rotta, radio host and owner of local radio station La PalmaEstéreo in the small town of San Alberto in northeastern Cesarprovince, was stabbed to death in his living room while watchingtelevision. According to CPJ research, friends rushed La Rotta to anearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. La Rotta, 51, founded La Palma Estéreo, a station that generallyplayed popular music, in 1999. His family told CPJ that he also hostedthe morning news program “El Amanecer del Campo” (The Awakening of theCountryside), on which he reported national news. According to regional press reports, La Rotta constantly questionedparamilitary presence in San Alberto, and said citizens were beingforced to pay illegal taxes. A family member who asked not to beidentified told CPJ that armed men often intimidated the station’sstaff and demanded La Rotta stop his commentary. La Rotta’s family told CPJ that on the day of the murder, the radio host was planning to flee San Alberto fearing for his life.
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