(PFC/IFEX) – On 6 February 2003, two journalists presented Vice-President Carlos Mesa with their testimonies about government interference with the media. The vice president, responding to a recent barrage of complaints about such interference, had promised that “if there were specific proof against an official for an action that could be substantiated, I would be […]
(PFC/IFEX) – On 6 February 2003, two journalists presented Vice-President Carlos Mesa with their testimonies about government interference with the media. The vice president, responding to a recent barrage of complaints about such interference, had promised that “if there were specific proof against an official for an action that could be substantiated, I would be the first to ask that the official be severely sanctioned or removed from his post.”
Juan Carlos Marañon, formerly of the Unitel television network in La Paz, and Andrés Gomez Vela, former news director of the newspaper “La Prensa”, presented their testimonies in the hope that their comments will provide a springboard for an investigation leading to the punishment of the guilty parties.
Marañon and Gomez are backed by the National Press Association (Asociacion Nacional
de la Prensa), the Bolivian Radio Broadcasters’ Association (Asociacion Boliviana de Radiodifusoras), the National Media Confederation (Confederacion Nacional de Medios de Comunicacion), the Bolivian National Journalists’ Association (Asociacion Nacional de Periodistas de Bolivia) and the Bolivian Press Workers’ Federation (Federacion de Trabajadores de la Prensa de Bolivia).
According to Marañon’s testimony, La Paz Unitel fired him in January after Minister Carlos Sánchez Berzaín warned Unitel executives that he would not appear on the station’s programmes as long as Marañon was employed there. Marañon claims he was targeted by the minister because prior to the last elections he had refused to provide Sánchez with information the minister had requested.
Gomez maintains that Minister Sánchez’s interference with “La Prensa” led the newspaper’s director and editor-in-chief to caution him about his reports on the minister. Gomez was fired from “La Prensa”, then reinstated after a strike ended, and has subsequently resigned.
In related incidents, Ombudsman Ana María Romero de Campero condemned the firing of Gabriela Arza, director of the state radio station Illimani, saying she was “used as a scapegoat.” Lupe Cajías, who heads the Anti-Corruption Unit (Unidad de Lucha contra la Corrupcion), promised to investigate complaints that some 30 journalists in Cochabamba had received payments from the municipality in exchange for altering information.
In an official statement released on the weekend of 8 February, the government denied accusations that Minister Sánchez or the government has interfered with the media.
For PFC’s letter to the ombudsman, reports and other information on these cases, see:
http://portal-pfc.org/perseguidos/2003/011.html
http://portal-pfc.org/perseguidos/2003/012.html
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Ombudsman Romero de Campero:
– asking her to respond to the accusations made by Marañon, Gomez and others that the government has interfered with the media’s work
– requesting a prompt and thorough investigation to clarify the situation and punish those responsible
Appeals To
Ana María Romero de Campero
Office of the Ombudsman
Calle Heriberto Gutiérrez 2374,
entre Rosendo Gutiérrez y Belisario Salinas
La Paz, Bolivia
Tel: +591 2 244 3838, +591 2 244 4265 (office)
Fax: +591 2 211 3538
E-mail: am.campero@defensor.gov.bo
Internet: http://www.defensor.gov.bo
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
