(SPP/IFEX) – In a 31 October 2001 press release, SPP condemned threats made by the new Lebanese Ambassador to Paraguay, Hicham Salim Hadam, and his bodyguards against journalist Adrían Cativelli, of the daily “Ultima Hora”. The diplomat’s intimidating threats against the journalist and the press in general and his bodyguards’ assault on Cativelli occurred during […]
(SPP/IFEX) – In a 31 October 2001 press release, SPP condemned threats made by the new Lebanese Ambassador to Paraguay, Hicham Salim Hadam, and his bodyguards against journalist Adrían Cativelli, of the daily “Ultima Hora”.
The diplomat’s intimidating threats against the journalist and the press in general and his bodyguards’ assault on Cativelli occurred during a press interview on the night of 29 October. Instead of answering questions, the ambassador and his Lebanese bodyguards reacted in this way because of reports in the press that alleged Lebanese citizens residing in Paraguay are terrorists.
SPP noted that journalists “limit themselves to publicising information obtained from sources at the national police and the judiciary as regards certain Lebanese citizens who are alleged to fund international terrorist organisations. Those affected in these cases should recur to the police or judiciary to request explanations or complain about the information released, within the realms established under the law.”
SPP noted that the reaction of the ambassador and his bodyguards “did little to help the Lebanese community, which has already been affected by the well-known international and national events.”
SPP also stated that “in this delicate and tense climate, the appropriate action for the diplomat and his bodyguards would be to diffuse the situation, not provoke more incidents.”
SPP called on the national authorities to provide the necessary protection for journalist Cativelli and demanded respect for the right to freedom of information and the pluralism of ideas, both essential on the road to consolidating democracy in Paraguay.
