#Journalism #suffers #attacks #blockades #hemisphere
Miami (April 26, 2024) – The Cuban regime detained the correspondent of the Spanish newspaper ABC, Camila Acosta, when she was heading to the municipality of Cárdenas to interview relatives of political prisoners. Acosta expressed that “the stories of political prisoners are sensitive issues and they are preventing me from doing my job at all costs.”
In Paraguay, the official deputy Yamil Esgaib attacked journalists Fiona Aquino and Rocio Pereira Da Costa when they asked him about the hiring of his daughter, who works at the Paraguayan embassy in the United Kingdom. Subsequently, the parliamentary majority blocked a motion of no confidence against the legislator.
In Mexico, the organization Article 19 reported that in 2023 there were 22 cases of judicial harassment against journalists and media outlets and, in Costa Rica, a representative asked the government of President Rodrigo Chaves to desist from its aggressive attitudes towards the questions of the press.
On the other hand, the Minister of Foreign Trade of Peru snatched the microphone from Néstor Larico, a journalist from Nueva TV Nacional, when questioned about her acceptance of the position. The National Association of Journalists of Peru condemned the incident and maintained that “this level of intolerance is inappropriate for someone who exercises public office.”
The Foundation for Freedom of the Press (FLIP) reported in Colombia that at least 13 journalists were attacked during protests against President Gustavo Petro. “The reporters from RTVC, Juan Maza BQ, El Tiempo, Cofradía para el Cambio, Tras Este Visor and El Tamal News were victims of physical and verbal attacks, obstruction of journalistic work and threats, which forced them to interrupt coverage to safeguard its integrity,” the organization said in a statement.
In Argentina, the Freedom of Expression Commission of the Chamber of Deputies mentioned 20 journalists with whom President Javier Milei has clashed in recent months.
In the United States, as part of the criminal trial against former President Donald Trump, the director of the New York tabloid National Enquirer released details about the practice of eliminating compromising information about public figures in exchange for paying money to sources. The practice, known as “catch and kill”, does not constitute an express crime but represents a serious impact on the exercise of free and independent journalism.
Regarding the serious crisis in Nicaragua, a report from the NGO “Human Rights Collective Nicaragua Never Again“, since 2018, at least 253 Nicaraguan journalists live in exile for security reasons.
The document was published during the sixth anniversary of the death of journalist Ángel Gahona, whose murder remains unsolved. This week, his case was highlighted by the IAPA in the campaign “Voices that Demand Justice”an initiative that seeks to combat impunity and rescue the memory of murdered journalists.
The SIP is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1,300 publications from the Western Hemisphere; and is headquartered in Miami, Florida, United States.
