(APG/IFEX) – From 11 to 14 April 2000, the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Santiago Canton, visited Guatemala to gather information and subsequently present a report on the state of press freedom in the country. President Alfonso Portillo had submitted a request to the OAS asking that Canton visit […]
(APG/IFEX) – From 11 to 14 April 2000, the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression, Santiago Canton, visited Guatemala to gather information and subsequently present a report on the state of press freedom in the country.
President Alfonso Portillo had submitted a request to the OAS asking that Canton visit the country, to demonstrate that the government was not behind Canal 13’s decision to close the television programme “Temas de Noche” on 2 February. The programme’s director, José Eduardo Zarco, alleged that his programme had been closed as a result of governmental pressures. In turn, the president invited Canton to ascertain first hand whether press freedom exists in Guatemala or not.
Prior to a meeting with Canton, APG President Byron Barrera commented to the press that the rapporteur’s visit would prove to be crucial to strengthening freedom of expression, which has in recent years been marked by confrontation between the government and journalists.
After completing a very full agenda that included a number of interviews with the president, journalists, directors of media and human rights activists, Canton concluded his visit and submitted a preliminary report on the state of press freedom in Guatemala. The rapporteur asked for a thorough investigation into the possible existence of a de facto monopoly in the ownership of television channels, noting that such a practice would be incompatible with the right to freedom of expression in a democratic society. He recognised, however, that democratic advances had positively influenced the advance of freedom of expression in Guatemala.
Canton referred to the closure of the television programme “Temas de Noche”, and the irregular sale of the magazine “Cronica”, in which the previous administration of Alvaro Arzú was implicated.
Canton welcomed President Portillo’s offer to bring before Congress a law that would allow for greater access to a number of public documents, including those of the military intelligence.
Finally, the OAS rapporteur recommended that auctions of radio frequencies be suspended and called on communications media to improve working conditions for journalists and to not discriminate against women and indigenous peoples.
