Rafael Molina, chairman of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, described as “excessive” an appeal that the governor of the Dominican Republic Central Bank, Lois Malkoun, had made to the presidency that “any statement or affirmation, whoever makes it, designed to create unease and uncertainty about the Dominican banking system be regarded as an attempt against national security.”
Malkoun, in an address to the nation on Tuesday evening, issued the call in connection with a financial crisis in the Dominican Republic in which an investigation is being carried out into activities of the Banco Internacional bank, whose owners also own a number of news media outlets, including the daily newspaper Listín Diario and several radio and television stations.
Malkoun added, “Should the executive branch heed the request of the Monetary and Financial Administration, under terms of the Constitution and the laws of the Republic, I would immediately proceed to initiate legal action against anyone engaging in this offense. The country cannot accept absolutely anybody attempting, through public statements, to destabilize the country’s financial system.”
Molina said he fully understood the problem that the banking system was undergoing, but felt that the official was being excessive in his recommendation. “A measure of this kind goes against the fundamental principles on which freedom of expression, the cornerstone of all human rights, is based,” he said.
“We formally request the President, with due respect for his office,
to ignore the request of the governor of the Central Bank,” Molina added,
“and that in this case, as in any other, the authorities restrict themselves
to applying the laws governing free speech and not seek restrictive interpretations
that would only lead to a virtual state of prior censorship.”
FUENTE: nota.texto7
