Abolish criminal defamation provisions, Human Rights Watch urges as freelancer goes on trial
Pascale Bonnefoy faces a prison term after writing an article naming a retired military officer as responsible for terrorising political prisoners during the Pinochet regime.
Police officer who assaulted photographer Víctor Salas identified; another photographer detained
Police sergeant Ivar Barría has been identified as the individual responsible for injuring photographer Víctor Salas in 2008. Another photographer was detained by police.
Community radio stations targeted in police operations
AMARC condemns a series of incidents targeting community radio stations.
Umbrales TV harassed by Telecommunications Secretariat and police
According to a 28 May 2009 release from Umbrales TV, Government Telecommunications Secretariat officials and police officers arrived at the station’s offices “with evident intentions of entering the premises, with unknown consequences”.
World Report 2009: Chile
World Report 2009: Chile
General Assembly 2008 Country Report: Chile
General Assembly 2008 Country Report: Chile
Supreme Court upholds defamation decision, hands down suspended sentence, fine and payment for damages
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: CHILE: Supreme Court upholds defamation decision New York, October 31, 2008 – The Chilean Supreme Court found journalist Víctor Gutiérrez guilty of criminal defamation on October 28, and sentenced him to a suspended prison sentence. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns criminal convictions for defamation as […]
Journalist attacked and threatened after reporting on drug trafficking
(RSF/IFEX) – Javiera López, who has reported on local drug trafficking for the privately-owned station NorTV, was punched and kicked by thugs on her way home in the northern city of Iquique on 23 October 2008. She had previously received repeated death threats by telephone, but said she never took them seriously. The attack came […]
Passage of Access to Information Law expected to “increase transparency, good governance, efficiency within public administration and citizen participation in public affairs,” says ARTICLE 19
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an 18 August 2008 ARTICLE 19 press release: Chile: Access to Information Law Approved Chile is the most recent country in the world to approve access to information legislation. On 11 August 2008, President Michelle Bachelet signed the Law on Transparency of Public Functions and Access to Information of […]
Access to government information law passed, IAPA urges other countries to follow suit
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 12 August 2008 IAPA press release: SIP Welcomes Approval of Access Law in Chile At the same time the Organization restated its request to lawmakers in Brazil and Guatemala to unlock negotiations and pass laws on official transparency and urged the Argentine and Paraguayan congresses to resume discussions. Miami […]
Community radio station considers investigation attempt an intimidation tactic
(AMARC/IFEX) – On the evening of 22 July 2008, several individuals who identified themselves as officials from the Telecommunications Sub-Secretariat (Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones, SUBTEL) showed up at the Pedro Maniqueo Cultural Centre in the La Victoria area of Santiago, Chile. The cultural centre is home to the Radio Primero de Mayo community radio station. The […]
La Voz community radio station repeatedly searched by investigative police; government introduces bill to legalise such stations’ status
(AMARC/IFEX) – On 4 July 2008, La Voz community radio station, located in the Estación Central neighbourhood of Chile’s capital, Santiago, reported that its premises had been searched several times by investigative police since 30 June. It should be noted that these searches have occurred while the government itself has been drafting a legislative bill […]
Police commanders refuse to identify officer who injured EFE photographer despite promise of disciplinary action
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is not satisfied with the promises given by Chile’s Carabinero police to punish some of its members for a physical attack on photographer Víctor Salas of the Spanish news agency EFE while he was covering a protest on 21 May 2008 in the western city of Valparaíso. EFE reports that […]
Concerned over detention of documentary filmmaker on hold-up charges, RSF asks, “Is the Mapuche issue a taboo subject?”
(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 6 June 2008 RSF letter to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet: HE Michelle Bachelet President of Chile La Moneda Palace, Santiago Dear Madam President, Reporters Without Borders, an organisation that defends press freedom worldwide, would like to draw your attention to the plight of filmmaker and producer Elena Varela López, […]
Journalists protest judge’s restriction on coverage of fraud case as “illegal and arbitrary”
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 25 May 2008, a judge of Santiago’s Seventh Tribunal, Cecilia Pastene, forbade journalists from revealing the identity or broadcasting photographs of a lawyer accused of defrauding a client of 1.08 billion pesos pesos (approx. US$ 2,230,000). Her ruling also called for the removal of journalists from the courtroom where the charges against […]
EFE photographer wounded by police while covering protest in Valparaíso
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 21 May 2008, EFE photojournalist Víctor Salas was wounded when a police officer struck him with a baton. Salas was covering the protests being staged by several civil society organizations in the vicinity of the National Congress in the city of Valparaíso (120 km from Santiago), the country’s legislative headquarters, where President […]