IAPA opposes proposed law governing journalistic activity
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 20 December 2007 IAPA press release: Don’t enact press law, give access to public records, IAPA urges Paraguayan president Miami (December 20, 2007) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today called on Paraguay’s President Nicanor Duarte Frutos to oppose a proposed law governing journalistic activity and urged him […]
“ABC Color” journalists threatened; president describes critical media as “enemy of the country”
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has deplored the “outrageous” charge by President Nicanor Duarte Frutos that opposition media were “enemies of the country” and expressed concern about growing intimidation of local media outlets in the run-up to national elections scheduled for April 2008. Duarte charged that the opposition media wanted to “destroy the future of our country […]
Journalist investigating corruption harassed by public official’s security guard
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 26 September 2007, the Paraguayan Journalists’ Forum (FOPEP) condemned an act of intimidation directed against “ABC Color” journalist Mabel Rehnfeldt on that same day by a security guard of Víctor Bernal, director of the Itaipú Bi-national (Paraguay – Brazil) Hydroelectric Plant. Rehnfeldt was taking pictures of Bernal’s house from her car, as […]
Journalists assaulted, harassed while covering release from jail of former military general
(SPP/IFEX) – The SPP condemns the mistreatment of journalists Luis Acosta of Radio Mil and Félix Chávez of Radio 1000, based in Asuncion. The incident in question occurred in Caacupé on 6 September 2007, while the journalists were attempting to cover the release from prison of former general Lino Oviedo. Acosta was forced to stop […]
Chilean radio journalist murdered by uniformed men in Itapúa department
(SPP/IFEX) – According to a police report, Tito Alberto Palma Godoy, a radio journalist based in Mayor Otaño – a town in the department of Itapúa, in southeastern Paraguay – was shot dead on the night of 22 August 2007, by two people wearing military uniforms. He was with his wife, Wilma Martínez, who was […]
IAPA hails conviction in Brazil of mastermind behind murder of Paraguayan newsman
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is an IAPA press release: IAPA hails conviction in Brazil in murder of Paraguayan newsman MIAMI, Florida (August 16, 2007) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today welcomed the recent conviction of one of the masterminds of the April 20, 2004 murder of Paraguayan journalist Samuel Román. On August 10 […]
Amambay governor assaults critical photojournalist; Asunción municipal security guards beat, detain two newspaper journalists
(SPP/IFEX) – The SPP condemns several recent acts of verbal and physical aggression perpetrated against several journalists in Amambay, a department in Paraguay’s northeast, and in Asunción, the country’s capital. On 3 August 2007, photojournalist Fernando Torres was verbally and physically attacked by Amambay governor Robert Acevedo. Torres works with the weekly “Vigilante” and the […]
Government threatens to shut down educational radio station in Itapúa
(AMARC/IFEX) – The nongovernmental organisation CECTEC (Centro de Educación Capacitación y Tecnología Campesina) has condemned a decision by the telecommunications entity Comisión Nacional de Telecomunicaciones (CONATEL) to shut down an educational radio station based in Itapúa. CONATEL appears to be acting under the influence of politicians close to President Nicanor Duarte who control the region. […]
Photographer, cameraman assaulted, threatened for filming shopping mall fire
(SPP/IFEX) – The SPP condemns the mistreatment of journalists Diego Villasanti, cameraperson for television station Canal13 of Ciudad del Este, and Víctor Azcona, photojournalist with the Ciudad del Este-based newspaper “Vanguardia”. Ciudad del Este is the capital of Alto Paraná department. The journalists were assaulted by the manager of the “Nave Informática” merchandise warehouse on […]
Paraguayan radio journalist Enrique Galeano reappears alive 17 months after being abducted, tortured, taken to Brazil
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is greatly relieved by the news that journalist Enrique Galeano of Radio Azotey has reappeared alive 17 months after he went missing on 4 February 2006 in the central department of Concepción, where he lived and worked. The Paraguayan press reported on 15 July that he resurfaced in the Brazilian city of […]
Community radio stations closed in response to pressure from business interests; allocation of frequencies politically biased, says AMARC
(AMARC/IFEX) – AMARC condemns the closure of various radio stations belonging to the Paraguayan Association of Community Communication (Asociación Paraguaya de Comunicación Comunitaria, COMUNICA), due to the strong pressure brought to bear upon the courts by commercial radio companies. On 10 July 2007, the radio station Chokokue FM, located in the city of Minga Guazú […]
Woman journalist receives death threat after criticising company owned by member of Congress
(SPP/IFEX) – The SPP condemns the death threat received by Clyde Martínez, correspondent for “ABC Color” newspaper in the city of Pilar, and holds local authorities and Benjamín Macial Pasotti, a Colorado party member of the Congress’s Chamber of Representatives, responsible for her safety. Martínez has been reporting on obvious mistakes in the construction of […]
Journalist threatened with legal action by Pilar appeals court member after critical article
(SPP/IFEX) – Rubén Franco, a member of the Appeals Court of the city of Pilar (Cámara de Apelaciones del Poder Judicial de Pilar), has threatened Mauricio Acosta, a journalist with the Pilar-based newspaper “Ultima Hora”, with legal action after the latter published articles that quoted social activists criticising the judiciary. The Executive Committee of the […]
Radio journalist receives death threat from anti-drug agents, his phone and another journalist’s illegally tapped, for reporting on corruption
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned for the safety of Vladimir Jara and Víctor Benítez of radio Chaco Boreal, who have received threats and whose phones have been illegally tapped since revealing alleged corruption within Paraguay’s National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Secretaría Nacional Antidrogas, SENAD). The organisation calls on the authorities to carry out both disciplinary and criminal […]
Journalist receives ongoing death threats over reporting on drug-trafficking in Itapúa
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 14 May 2007, journalist Óscar Bogado, a correspondent for the newspaper “Última Hora”, revealed that he has been receiving death threats by telephone. The threats began in January 2006 and he is still receiving them. According to Bogado, each of the threats was made immediately after he published an article about drug […]
President Duarte affirms commitment to press freedom, signs Declaration of Chapultepec
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is an abridged translation of a 22 February 2007 IAPA press release: President Duarte affirms commitment to press freedom, signs Declaration of Chapultepec Asunción (22 de febrero de 2007) – Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte Frutos signed the Declaration of Chapultepec in a ceremony held 22 February at the governmental palace, saying […]