(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 22 February 2005 IAPA press release: Press Freedom Organizations Issue Resolutions on Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela Miami (February 22, 2005) – Institutions represented in the Global Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations approved resolutions on freedom of the press and expression in Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela during a meeting […]
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 22 February 2005 IAPA press release:
Press Freedom Organizations Issue Resolutions on Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela
Miami (February 22, 2005) – Institutions represented in the Global Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations approved resolutions on freedom of the press and expression in Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela during a meeting last week in Switzerland.
During the meeting in Geneva on February 16, the Global Coordinating Committee also issued a resolution on Iraq.
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) was represented by the organization’s president, Alejandro Miró Quesada C., former presidents Andrés García Lavín and Andrés García Gamboa, and Executive Director Julio E. Muñoz.
Below is the complete text of the resolutions on Cuba, Haiti and Venezuela, approved by the IAPA, International Broadcasting Association, International Press Institute, North American Broadcasters Association, World Association of Newspapers and the World Press Freedom Committee.
Resolution on Cuba
WHEREAS
Independent journalists Raúl Rivero, Jorge Olivera Castillo, Edel José García Díaz, Oscar Espinosa Chepe, Manuel Vázquez Portal and Carmelo Díaz Fernández were released in 2004 for health reasons after being sentenced to between 15 and 20 years in prison
WHEREAS
Journalists Ricardo González Alfonso, Víctor Rolando Arroyo, Normando Hernández González, Julio César Gálvez, Adolfo Fernández Sainz, Omar Rodríguez Saludes, Héctor Maseda Gutiérrez, Mijaíl Barzaga Lugo, Pedro Argüelles Morán, Pablo Pacheco Ávila, Alejandro González Raga, Alfredo Pulido López, Mario Enrique Mayo, Fabio Prieto Llorente, Iván Hernández Carrillo, José Luis García Paneque, Juan Carlos Herrera, Miguel Galván Gutiérrez, José Ubaldo Izquierdo, Léxter Luis González Pentón, Omar Ruiz Hernández, José Gabriel Ramón Castillo and Alfredo Felipe Fuentes, sentenced to between 3 and 27 years, still remain in jail for exercising their right to freedom of expression and disagreeing with government officials
WHEREAS
The release of several independent journalists is not sufficient, since 26 colleagues still remain behind bars under the pretext of having committed a crime for the mere act of expressing their ideas or criticizing the government of Fidel Castro
WHEREAS
Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes that “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”
The Global Coordinating Committee resolves:
To call for the release of all remaining journalists and members of the political opposition in prison since March 2003 after summary trials.
To remain vigilant and work with governments and international organizations until all journalists and dissidents in Cuba are released.
To demand respect for freedom of expression and human rights.
Resolution on Haiti
WHEREAS
There persists a situation that represents a serious threat to journalists, particularly those in the interior of the country, limiting citizens’ access to information and promoting self-censorship among journalists
WHEREAS
There are no safeguards for the exercise of journalism in this country, where on January 14 radio reporter Abdias Jean was murdered while covering a police operation and raid
WHEREAS
While working in their profession, journalists have been attacked by supporters of the political opposition as well as by members of the security forces
The Global Coordinating Committee resolves:
To request a prompt investigation to find those responsible for the murder of Abdias Jean.
To urge that investigations into the murders of journalists Jean Leopold Dominique (April 3, 2000), Gerad Denoze (December 15, 2000) and Brignol Lindor (December 3, 2001) remain open until the assassins are arrested and prosecuted.
To demand that public authorities create an environment in which journalists can exercise their profession without fear or risk.
Resolution on Venezuela
WHEREAS
The approval of the Law on Partial Reforms to the Venezuelan Penal Code and the Law on Social Responsibility in Radio and Television, passed recently through an Executive Branch initiative, establish serious limitations to freedom of the press and of expression in Venezuela
WHEREAS
The reform to the Penal Code establishes in Articles 148 and 149 the concept of insult, contradicting inter-American doctrine on freedom of expression by sanctioning those who offend, either verbally or in writing, the President and other government officials, judges and legislators
WHEREAS
Articles 444 and 446 increase the terms of prison sentences for criminal defamation as they relate to journalists and the media
WHEREAS
The Law on Social Responsibility in Radio and Television (Law on Content) creates a system of information control that enables the State to interfere in media content, restricting news and controlling information transmitted to citizens, including news regarding public officials
WHEREAS
The approval of reforms to the Penal Code and the Content Law creates in Venezuela a State policy aimed at restricting freedom of expression and the press, as well as sanctioning critical opinions voiced by journalists and citizens
The Global Coordinating Committee resolves:
To urge the Venezuelan government to repeal the Law on Social Responsibility in Radio and Television, as well as reverse the reforms to the Penal Code, since they are inconsistent with basic principles of freedom of expression and the press.
To reiterate to the Venezuelan government the need to respect freedom of expression and the press.
