(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 14 March 2005 IAPA press release: IAPA meeting ends with severe criticism of press freedom in the hemisphere Reaffirms commitment to defending press freedom Miami (March 14, 2005) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) closed its Midyear Meeting today in Panama with the approval of conclusions that pinpointed […]
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 14 March 2005 IAPA press release:
IAPA meeting ends with severe criticism of press freedom in the hemisphere
Reaffirms commitment to defending press freedom
Miami (March 14, 2005) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) closed its Midyear Meeting today in Panama with the approval of conclusions that pinpointed hostile environments that independent and critical journalists confront in several countries. The organisation also applauded steps taken in favor of access of public information laws in other countries of the hemisphere.
After meetings in which the situation of press freedom in the Americas during the last semester was discussed, along with other issues, the IAPA ended today its activities, which began on March 11, with the issuing of a number of conclusions, which are attached below.
CONCLUSIONS
Midyear Meeting
Panama City, Panama
March 11 – 14, 2005
With some notable exceptions, hopes for a fully free and independent press throughout the hemisphere appear to be diminishing, according to a report issued by the Inter American Press Association on Monday. Several governments have shown themselves to be openly hostile to media critics, and violence against journalists continues to be of concern as five were killed in the last six months. This trend makes more urgent the need for IAPA to continue to tirelessly uphold press freedom.
The organisation continues to be greatly concerned about Venezuela, where President Hugo Chavez has consolidated his grip over much of the broadcast media through so-called “gag” laws, and about Cuba, where independent journalists remain jailed or muzzled by the Fidel Castro government, as they have been for more than four decades.
President Chavez’s consolidation of the courts under his control, along with a compliant National Assembly, have enabled him to control the content of programs broadcast by television and radio stations. Meanwhile, his relentless attacks on the media have “chilled” the willingness of others to be critical.
The presidents of Argentina and Ecuador have also been antagonistic towards the media in their countries. In the case of Argentina, the president has shown a willingness to use economic sanctions against critics. Such actions have dampened the willingness of many newspapers and audio-visual media to criticise those governments. For example, President Nestor Kirchner of Argentina uses government advertising to pressure the media and to “chill” press criticism, while Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutiérrez has vilified the media and called press freedom “excessive.”
In addition, there are concerns about steps taken by authorities in the United States threatening journalists with jail and fines if they refuse to reveal the identities of some sources. Also of concern are admissions by the Bush administration that it secretly paid three journalists to support its policies – an unethical practice called “payola”, which may be illegal under US laws that prohibit the federal government from spreading propaganda.
There are some positive developments regarding press freedom. In Panama, newly elected President Martín Torrijos, on his first day in office, revoked the regulations in the Transparency Law, which had blocked free access to information. He pledged to the IAPA delegates that he would continue to reform Panamanian law to create more openness in government and, presumably, discourage corruption. A free press, he said, is the best “antidote” to corruption. Finally, he announced at the IAPA meeting that he would submit a proposal to the Legislative Assembly to repeal laws that restrict press freedom, known as “gag laws.”
President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia told the same gathering that he remained fully committed to freedom of the press in his country, despite the ongoing violence unleashed by paramilitary and guerrilla groups financed by the drug trade. It is important to note that fewer journalists were killed or injured in the past six months for their work in Colombia.
In Brazil, President Inácio Lula da Silva’s government passed a law making attacks against journalists a federal crime, which may help in apprehending and prosecuting those in Brazil’s rural areas who would attempt to stifle the press through violence and threats.
IAPA welcomes steps taken in Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru, Nicaragua and Mexico, among other countries, on freedom of information laws, although some fall short of being ideal.
Cuba continued to have the most repressive government in the region, maintaining a monopoly on all information about the government. Although the Castro government recently released independent journalist Raúl Rivero from prison for health reasons, along with five other dissidents, at least 25 still remain behind bars for their journalism work.
Although journalists in Haiti and Mexico are not obstructed by their governments, a lack of security, caused in Haiti by political instability and in Mexico by drug trafficking, exposes journalists to extremely dangerous situations. Finally, several countries continue to have so-called “insult” laws that threaten journalists with jail or fines for criticising elected officials, even if such reports are accurate.
