(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 9 May 2002 IAPA press release: IAPA condemns attack on journalists in El Salvador and calls for an immediate investigation Miami (9 May 2002) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned last week’s attack in El Salvador on journalists from a number of media outlets by supporters of […]
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 9 May 2002 IAPA press release:
IAPA condemns attack on journalists in El Salvador and calls for an immediate investigation
Miami (9 May 2002) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned last week’s attack in El Salvador on journalists from a number of media outlets by supporters of the opposition party, Frente Farabundo MartÃ. The IAPA characterised the incident as an act of intolerance that negatively impacted on press freedom and the free exercise of journalism and called for a prompt investigation.
During a speech given on 1 May to commemorate Labour Day, Schafick Handal, Frente Farabundo Martà leader and member of congress, accused journalists of printing lies and urged party supporters “not to trust the media.” His comments spurred his followers to insult and attack journalists and cameramen who were covering the event and damage their equipment.
Rafael Molina, chairman of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, noted that “using violence against the press to demonstrate a difference in opinion is a clear reflection of a lack of tolerance. [This is] characteristic of so many countries in the western hemisphere and is aimed at restricting the work of journalists.”
Molina, of Ahora magazine, published in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, publicly called on El Salvador’s judiciary and legislative authorities to ensure that such actions are not repeated and the level of violence against the press does not escalate. Furthermore, Molina urged them to promptly investigate the incident and severely punish those responsible, in accordance with the Declaration of Chapultepec, which establishes 10 principles for a free press.
Molina recalled that the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights stipulates that “â¦intimidation of and/or threats to social communicators, as well as the material destruction of communications media violate the fundamental rights of individuals and strongly restrict freedom of expression”.
