(FIP/IFEX) – We, the journalists affiliated with the National Union of Nicaraguan Journalists (Sindicato Nacional de Periodistas de Nicaragua – SNPN), meeting in a General Assembly, denounce to the people of Nicaragua and sister organizations around the world, the constant violations, mistreatment, threats of imprisonment and verbal repression which we have suffered under President Arnoldo […]
(FIP/IFEX) – We, the journalists affiliated with the National Union of
Nicaraguan Journalists (Sindicato Nacional de Periodistas de Nicaragua –
SNPN), meeting in a General Assembly, denounce to the people of Nicaragua
and sister organizations around the world, the constant violations,
mistreatment, threats of imprisonment and verbal repression which we have
suffered under President Arnoldo Aleman and many of the members of his
cabinet.
One of the recent attacks occurred on 21 May, during a press conference
which the President gave on his return from a trip to the United States. He
became aggressive and violent towards a number of our colleagues when they
asked him questions about the narcotics scandal in which several officials
of his government appear to be involved.
The following day, the President continued a series of insults against our
profession, calling us “information terrorists”, coincidentally, during an
event at the Ruben Dario National Theatre in which our colleague, journalist
and historian Ignacio Briones Torrez, received the National Humanities
Award.
Nicaraguan journalists feel that our most fundamental human rights have
been both verbally and physically attacked. We want to make it understood
that, for the sake of our professional dignity, we will not continue to
permit the outrages of the President of the Republic, Doctor Arnoldo Aleman,
who, while he deserves the respect of journalists, also has the obligation
to respect us.
