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60
IAPA Assembly
October 22 - 26 ,2004
Antigua , Guatemala.
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Country-by-Country Reports
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ARUBA AND ANTILLAS
There have
been three unpleasant incidents during the past few months that affected freedom
of the press.
In the third week of August, photographer Farrah Soakhoudt, of the daily newspaper
Awe Mainta, was insulted in the presence of members of local media minutes before
the weekly government press conference. A photo she had taken at a public event
of the government's Chef de Protocol, Eric Brete was published by the paper,
after which the person in question decided it was fit to comment how he did,
insulting her.
While covering the flooding caused by torrential rains following Hurricane Ivan
and the consequences thereof in the neighborhood of Madiki, photographer Nose
do Silva of the daily newspaper Bon Dia Aruba had a discussion with the head
of the Aruban Department of Justices Special Corps, Ronny Paskel and two companions.
Da Silva was pulled out of his car, hit and his face was pushed into the murky
water. Da Silva submitted an official complaint with the criminal investigation
unit. This case is still under investigation by local authorities.
On October 12, 2004, Marie Ortin, photographer for daily newspaper Diario, was
attacked by three individuals when she took a phcto of a lady who had fainted
and was being picked up by an ambulance, after having covered an event at the
Cultural Institute. She wrapped up and three individuals followed her while
she was walking to hex car, grabbed her arm various times and insulted her for
having taken the picture and tried to take away her press badge to get her name.
The occasion she had covered was a public event with various dignataries present.
An official complaint was submitted with the local police and outcome of the
investigation is at this time pending.
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