WHEREAS
the newspaper Cuarto Poder of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas has been unjustly persecuted through actions that have included intimidation campaigns and the jailing of family members of Conrado de la Cruz, the newspaper’s editor

WHEREAS
these campaigns are initiated by officials of the Chiapas state government, headed by Governor Pablo Salazar Mendiguchia

WHEREAS
Cuarto Poder was subjected to tax audits that led to criminal charges against the newspaper’s management, even though the audits were still pending

WHEREAS
Governor Pablo Salazar introduced a law, passed by the state legislature, that defines defamation as a felony offense carrying a longer prison term than anywhere else in the country

WHEREAS
columnist Carlos Zuanzinger, who writes for the newspaper El Orbe of Tapachula, Chiapas, is the subject of a criminal investigation for having criticized the Chiapas state government

WHEREAS
Principle 6 of the Declaration of Chapultepec states, “The media and journalists should neither be discriminated against nor favored because of what they write or say”

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES

to request that Chiapas Governor Pablo Salazar cease all persecution and harassment of the newspaper Cuarto Poder, Editor Conrado de la Cruz and his family members

to request that tax authorities thoroughly review the alleged tax offenses at the newspaper Cuarto Poder

to request that judicial authorities drop any and all charges against journalists for exercising their right to express themselves freely and critically

to demand that Governor Salazar respect the right to freedom of speech in his state, which applies not only to journalists but to all citizens

to demand that the government of Chiapas decriminalize defamation, as recommended by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.