SIP-IAPA - Reports and Resolutions

BOLIVIA

Press freedom was affected by attacks on journalists and legal rulings that could obstruct their work. These are the facts:
September 15: Seven television journalists were attacked by police officers outside "Palmasola" jail in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. They were attempting to cover a serious conflict that broke out because of a decision to move publiC telephones to prevent prisoners from communicating with the outside.
The journalists' equipment was damaged, and they demanded the dismissal of the commander of the regional police and his deputy. It was said that the latter not only knew about the attack and failed to stop it, but had actually encouraged it.
The next day the president ordered an investigation of the incident and apologized for its impact.
He offered to protect journalists, but only after recommending "caution" in the handling of information.
September 25: A similar incident took place at EI Trompillo Airport in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Two journalists were attacked when they entered a military area in the airport to try to interview the president who was in transit there.
October 6: Bolivian border guards attacked Argentine journalists who were trying to enter the country on a reporting mission. The police commander apologized publicly and said the incident would be investigated.
September 7: Press organizations worked with the Constitution Committee of the Chamber of Deputies on the content of an article for the proposed Code of Criminal Procedure that is being considered in Congress. It was debated by the two sides because it was thought to restrict press freedom.
The text agreed on says: "Within the framework of the responsibilities established by the Press Law, information about a criminal trial will not present the defendant as guilty unless a final judgment has been reached."
This version is not substantially different from the original, although it cites the Press Law, which is considered an element of protection in Bolivia, since it establishes a special regime for the definition and clarification of so-called press offenses.

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