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ATTACKS ON THE RISE THE PRESS IN THE AMERICAS first

Five journalists were killed during the past six months: three in Mexico one in Argentina and another in Honduras. More than 30 were attacked in Peru, and 32 were threatened in Colombia. Paraguay suffered the greatest increase in reports of verbal aggression. Through five separate resolutions, the IAPA expressed concern over the impunity surrounding crimes against journalists.

Jose Emilio Castellanos

Attacks on journalists and media companies have intensified in the Americas over the past six months, as seen in the claims and judgments proceedings against the media as well as an increase in violence against journalists, said Inter American Press Association (IAPA) at its last meeting held in Caracas, Venezuela.

The conference, held in Caracas, Venezuela, the IAPA paid particular attention to the situation of press freedom in the host country and in Cuba and Bolivia - three countries where the government is one of the main perpetrators behind the attacks against free expression, said SIP

The transfer of power from Fidel Castro to his brother Raúl did not improve the status of the 25 journalists still in prison or the adverse working conditions of independent journalists said the SIP.

companies owned media State in the region have increased, which is "clear evidence of new efforts by various governments to control information," said IAPA. In Venezuela and Bolivia, the government has taken control of several radio and TV stations. The SIP also accused Venezuela of using prosecutors and judges for the Government to bring up charges against journalists.

Although the SIP had invited President Hugo Chavez to formally open the conference, he did not attend. The same weekend, supporters of Chávez inaugurated the "Latin American Meeting against Media Terrorism" to examine what they call biased coverage of his government and to explore the assumptions links between media companies and the U.S. government

"All efforts of the SIP to open channels of communication with the Government of Venezuela were unsuccessful, not only in this meeting but in prior attempts and missions," said SIP.
The SIP also described some of the more subtle threats to freedom of expression in the region, from the use of court cases to silence journalists in Brazil to governments to continue rewarding regular "friendly" with lucrative government advertising contracts in Argentina.

Source: IFEX, Canada