Summary of Country-by-Country reports
Presented by Press Freedom Coordinator Ricardo Trotti
Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information
IAPA 58th General Assembly, Lima, Peru
October 27, 2002

Argentina
Growing financial pressure with the imposition of value added tax on advertising, newsprint and single-copy sales of newspapers and magazines, amid a general economic crisis, is putting the country’s press at serious risk. A bill before the Senate would exempt advertising from the tax and cut the tax on newsprint by 50 per cent.
The Chamber of Deputies continues to postpone reading of a bill to repeal the deregulation of the sale of newspapers and magazines, something envisioned in executive decrees.

Bolivia
During the election campaign and responding to pressure from news organizations, the Congress passed amendments to electoral law provisions that restricted media publication of political propaganda and breached the right to keep news sources confidential.
The executive editor of El Diario, María Teresa Guzmán de Carrasco, was murdered on April 10. Her husband, the newspaper’s publisher, was accused of having ordered her killed and he is now under arrest. He claims he is innocent and the murder was in reprisal for what the paper had been publishing.

Brazil
Two journalists were killed in recent months. They were investigative reporter Tim Lopes of the Globo television network and Domingos Savio Brandao de Lima, editor of Folha do Estado in Matto Gross state. In both cases a number of people have been arrested in connection with the murders.
A whole new industry of filing lawsuits against the news media has emerged, as is clear from recent libel suits initiated by lawyers persuading their so-called clients to claim exorbitant damages.

Canada
Freedom of expression has been affected by judicial orders and legislative initiatives, particularly in the field of access to government information during the second half of this year.
An overwhelming majority of Canadians want the federal government to protect freedom of expression in the media and deal with the issue of concentration of media ownership, an opinion poll issued in July shows. The poll was conducted 12 days after Ottawa Citizen Publisher Russell Mills was fired for writing an editorial calling on Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to resign.

Caribbean
The inter-governmental Organization of Eastern Caribbean States has proposed creatin of a Code of Ethics for journalists and the media.
In Jamaica, the government passed a law providing for access to public records, but it so far lacks enabling legislation to put it into effect.

Chile
Both the executive and the legislature reversed decrees restricting access by reporters and other media employees to government offices and officials after an outcry from news organizations.
The government introduced in Congress in August a bill to amend the Penal Code and Code of Military Justice so as to remove the offense of contempt.

Colombia
This has been one of the darkest periods for the press. Four journalists were murdered, 11 kidnapped, 10 were forced to flee the country in fear of their lives and 48 received threats, mainly from guerrilla and paramilitary groups.
A bill for a law to regulate the news media and license journalists was shelved, but another one before Congress would make journalists face increased penalties if found guilty of libel or defamation.

Costa Rica
A bill to amend the Penal Code would regulate the use of a person’s likeness and access to computer databases, among other provisions seen as curtailing press freedom. The Supreme Court, which introduced the bill, has not discussed the matter with the news media.

Cuba
Journalist Bernardo Arévalo Padrón, in jail since 1997, was moved to a maximum security prison for sending letters from his cell. In recent months three journalists were arrested and remain in custody. They are Léxter Tellez Castro, Carlos Brizuela Yera and Carlos Alberto Domínguez.
Independent journalists continue getting the usual official treatment – intimidating phone calls, brief house arrest, warnings, fines, searches and ejection from their workplaces.

Dominican Republic
The Journalists Colegio is pursuing its attempt to restore membership in it as a legal requirement to work as a journalist, something that the Supreme Court has held to be unconstitutional.

Ecuador
A Law on Control of Election Campaign Expenses and Propaganda went into effect. It bans publication of opinion polls in the 15 days before elections and of exit polls.
The Ecuadorean Newspaper Publishers Association submitted to the executive a draft bill on access to public records which the president promised to send to Congress.

El Salvador
Several new laws on management of state funds and social welfare set specific limits on access by journalists to public records.
The lack of a law on access to public records enabled 10 municipalities in San Salvador to refuse to provide information about the handling of treasury funds following allegations of corruption.

Guatemala
Congress passed amendments to the Penal Code setting penalties for publication of quotes obscene content unquotes, thus paving the way for legal intervention in decisions as to what to publish.
The government escalated its attempts to discredit the independent press in the run-up to the 2003 elections. It continues using the official television broadcasts to attack the media and editors.

Haiti
Journalists complained of serious pressure being exerted by the government and the ruling Lavalás Family Movement in a bid to silence criticism and restrict access to public records. Among the weapons being used are death threats and psychological pressure on family members.
Three journalists fled the country after receiving threats. The murderers of three others, Jean Leopold Dominique, Gerard Denoze and Brignol Lindor, remain at large.

Honduras
Reporters and executives of the Hondured television network charged the government discriminates against it in the placement of official advertising in reprisal for criticism about a personal overseas visit President Ricardo Maduro had made.

Mexico
On April 30, the Congress passed the Federal Law on Transparency and Access to Public Information, which was then signed by President Vicente Fox on June 3. The law sets a one-year deadline for its implementation.
A hostile climate exists for reporters and media on the Mexico-United States border, mainly due to the violent activities of drug traffickers.

Nicaragua
The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the constitutionality of the requirement that journalists belong to the Journalists Colegio contained in legislation enacted in 2001. The two journalists unions in the country are in dispute as to how to form such a colegio.
The new government cancelled the previous administration’s discrimination in the placement of official advertising and as a result the newspaper La Noticia, supported by former President Arnoldo Alemán, was forced to cease publication. The La Poderosa radio station, owned by the Catholic Church and a supporter of Alemán, was closed down by the incoming administration.

Panama
Laws restricting press freedom remain on the books and control of the news media continues, despite promises by successive freely-elected governments to remove them.
A law providing for free access to public records was enacted but the executive, on the pretext of coming up with enabling legislation, in fact turned it into a dead letter. The move has been appealed to the Supreme Court.

Paraguay
Television station operators called on the Industry Ministry to regulate broadcast and video production and order that such material contain only “accurate, objective and timely” information.
Allegations of corruption made in the press has frequently led to threats or action against reporters and editors of a number of media.

Peru
Amendment of the Constitution and a new Law on Transparency and Access to Public Information advanced protection of press freedom in Peru, although the latter contains provisions that it is feared could be used to keep certain documents secret.
Several journalists around the country were assaulted or threatened and legal actions were initiated against others.

Puerto Rico
A court ordered three television stations to hand over films of public officials being arrested following an incident at a public office, saying their airing would violate the officials’ right to privacy and presumption of innocence.
Governor Sila Calderón signed several bills, proposed by the Senate, outlawing graphic sexual content in television programs, which the movie and broadcast industry called an unconstitutional move that violated free speech.

United States
War and the threat of war were in the forefront of issues related to press freedom in the United States since IAPA’s March meeting. There have been instances of press restrictions related anti-terrorism measures, such as unsuccessful attempts by news media to obtain public records relating to terrorism, particularly concerning people detained for immigration violations, the holding of certain immigration hearings behind closed doors, and illegal monitoring by the FBI of telephone conversations and Internet traffic.
In July, a jury found a publisher and editor in Wynadotte County, near Kansas City, guilty of criminal libel. They could face up to one year in jail.

Uruguay
The Chamber of Deputies passed a bill on the right to information and to access to public records which allows citizens to seek any government document and to receive and impart such information. Senate approval is now awaited.
For years there has been one tax on newspapers published in Montevideo and another for inland papers, and now the administration is planning to have just one, lower tax.

Venezuela
The death of reporter Jorge Tortoza during a demonstration in April continues to go unpunished. Since then there have been 59 attacks on journalists and news media premises, the majority carried out by supporters of the government.
If a government bill on Public Participation is passed, a result will be the creation of a Media Oversight Committee amounting to a “neighborhood tribunal” empowered to impose censorship, shut down publications and interfere in the hiring of staff by the media.