(IPYS/IFEX) – On 21 July 1999, a number of journalists and news photographers were assaulted by the police, despite the fact that they had identified themselves as press workers. The journalists had been covering a protest march organised by the Bolivian Labour Union (Central Obrera Boliviana, COB) in the city of La Paz. The journalists […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 21 July 1999, a number of journalists and news
photographers were assaulted by the police, despite the fact that they had
identified themselves as press workers. The journalists had been covering a
protest march organised by the Bolivian Labour Union (Central Obrera
Boliviana, COB) in the city of La Paz. The journalists were hit by police
officers and were attacked by police dogs, which resulted in injuries to two
journalists.
It was suggested that Colonel Edwin Landívar Garraga, the commander of the
Special Security Group (Grupo Especial de Seguridad, GES), was one of the
masterminds and participants in the attack. Landívar insulted Marcelo
Padilla and other journalists when they formally complained about the
mistreatment. “Cowards, they are now crying like sissies,” the colonel said,
according to Padilla’s public complaint.
President of the Republic Hugo Banzer lamented the attack and made a
recommendation to journalists to “be prudent, not take risks and to not, as
journalists, find themselves in places where there is a police operation.”
He suggested that they use a vest with a “press” label so that they can be
more easily identified. Banzer emphasised that freedom of expression is
guaranteed by his government.
The president made these statements on 22 July, shortly after a protest
march by journalists, while he met to have tea with reporters who are
accredited to enter the governmental palace. When these reporters questioned
him about the police aggression, Banzer responded that it was not the right
moment to keep delving into the topic.
On 22 July, press associations and unions organised a demonstration in the
Plaza Murillo, questioning why the president had failed to complete his
promises to provide guarantees to journalists.
On the same day, National Police and journalist representatives held a
meeting during which the police promised to punish the guilty parties and
the two sides agreed to work in support of Bolivian democracy.
The leaders of the Potosí Press Workers Union urged the Ministry of
Government to provide a good example by punishing those who were responsible
for attacking the journalists. The union leaders attributed the attack to a
possible uneasiness in the police force as a result of the media’s extensive
reporting on cases of corruption implicating police officers. According to
the union leaders, the police force is willing to take advantage of any
opportunity to seek revenge against journalists. Juan Carlos Coque, the
union’s secretary general, stated that there are constant attacks against
press freedom in Bolivia.
During his meeting with the reporters who are assigned to the palace,
President Banzer also commented on a recent resolution made by the La Paz
prefect, Banzer’s son-in-law, Alberto Valle. The resolution would restrict
public protests held in the city, requiring prior notification – given at
least twenty-four hours in advance – of the demonstration’s time, route and
its goal, and the payment of a fee as a guarantee.
The president admitted that some aspects of this regulation are
unconstitutional, but still maintained that certain changes needed to be
made, to impose order and to protect citizens’ right to work, which is
allegedly affected by the protests. To justify his position, Banzer cited
polls and analyses that show that the citizens of La Paz are tired of
demonstrations, because they paralyse the city every three working days,
according to the Cochabamba newspaper, “Los Tiempos”.
Nevertheless, the measure was criticised by the minister of labour, Luis
Vásquez, who stated that any decision to regulate demonstrations in the La
Paz region should have been reached at by consensus, to prevent later
disagreement. “Protests are a reaction to governmental injustice against the
demonstrators, who go out on the streets to reclaim their rights,” Vásquez
noted.
The ombudsperson and the Permanent Human Rights Assembly were also in
disagreement with the prefect’s decision and asked that it be repealed
because, in their opinion, “it infringes upon constitutional precepts” and
“it does not comply with the law, but rather contradicts precepts and
constitutional guarantees and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Appeals To
Hugo Banzer
President of the Republic
Fax: + 591 2 39 1216Walter Guiteras
Minister of Governance
Fax: +561 2 37 1334José Luis Medina
National Police Chief
Tel: +561 2 43 4110 / 39 2220Ana María Campero
Ombudsperson
Fax: +591 811 3538
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.