DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
WHEREAS
press freedom is impossible without independence of media outlets, and that,
in turn, depends on their financial strength
WHEREAS
the media outlets taken over because of the asset-laundering law in the Dominican
Republic have an unfair advantage because they receive economic advantages
from the government and the government exempts them from payments required
of the independent press, which contributes to the decline of freedom of expression
and the dissemination of ideas
WHEREAS
this unfair competition has a doubly damaging effect because of the state
of the Dominican economy which is reflected in the adverse conditions for
the financial health of independent media outlets, some of which have closed,
leaving few openings for pluralism
WHEREAS
Principle 6 of the Declaration of Chapultepec says, “The media and journalists
should neither be discriminated against nor favored because of what they write
or say”
THE MIDYEAR MEETING OF
THE IAPA RESOLVES
to ask the Dominican government to end any aid or financial assistance to
the media outlets that were taken over and allow them to operate under the
same market conditions as the independent media, and that, given their temporary
status as public enterprises, everything about their finances and operations
be disclosed openly and on a regular basis, as should be done in a democratic
society.
questions
or comments?