(SPP/IFEX) – The following is a 3 May 1999 SPP press release: PRESS RELEASE – PARAGUAY Paraguayan journalists’ demands to the President of the Republic The Paraguay Union of Journalists (SPP) made various appeals to the new President of the Republic of Paraguay, Luis Angel González Macchi, in connection with the work of journalists in […]
(SPP/IFEX) – The following is a 3 May 1999 SPP press release:
PRESS RELEASE – PARAGUAY
Paraguayan journalists’ demands to the President of the Republic
The Paraguay Union of Journalists (SPP) made various appeals to the new
President of the Republic of Paraguay, Luis Angel González Macchi, in
connection with the work of journalists in Paraguay. The appeals were made
as one of the activities planned for Journalism Week in Paraguay, and in
commemoration of 3 May, World Press Freedom Day.
Members of SPP’s Board of Directors interviewed González Macchi in the
Government Palace. While there, they gave him a letter and discussed with
him the following:
– Santiago Leguizamon case: The President was asked to review the case and
to arrange new investigations that would aid the justice system to gain new
insight into the assassination of journalist Santiago Leguizamon, which
occurred on 26 April 1991, on the Day of the Journalist. González Macchi was
reminded that shedding light on this crime would be one way for him to
fulfill his promise to end impunity in Paraguay, made when he assumed the
presidency of the Republic. The President immediately contacted the Minister
of the Interior to speed up the processing of the case.
– National Telecommunications Commission (CONATEL) and community radios: The
government was urged to reconsider the changes in the regulations governing
community radio stations, so that social organisations can receive their
broadcasts without arbitrary restrictions on coverage, range of transmission
and economic sustainability (see IFEX alert of 5 October 1998). The
government was asked to suspend the huge bidding of commercial radios for a
limited period, until a fairer balance of access to the airwaves can be
reached with other sectors of civil society. The President asked the
Governmental Palace’s legal advisor to analyse the documentation noted by
the SPP and to continue discussing the matter.
– Security for journalists: the government was asked to establish means to
protect and provide security for journalists who encounter problems,
especially those journalists who work in the border regions, where death
threats from mafia groups are abundant.
– Respecting freedom of expression: Despite the fact that there is
confidence that the new government will respect freedom of expression and
citizens’ right to be informed, González Macchi was asked to do what he
could to allow press workers to have free access to public news sources. The
President gave guarantees that there will be increase transparency and that
any obstacles impeding access to information that may exist in public
institutions will be addressed.
