Analysis: Reporters without borders

Colombian, Venezuelan and Honduran journalists struggle to survive in systems that often oppress their voices

By Shilah Alibakhshi

The threat of violence and death is a reality for many Latin American journalists working today if they choose to freely report on exposing corruption.

In the past 22 years a total of 360 journalists have been killed in the Americas.

With 42 confirmed murders of journalists in Colombia the country has historically been one of the world’s deadliest nations for the press. The government credits their increase in security for the recent decline in the number of murders while research shows self-censorship to be a significant factor in the decrease, according to reports gathered by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Investigations into the murders take a minimum of three years. Battling with the government and insisting that justice be done does not bring the journalists back to life. Yet, legal fighting does send a strong message those who use violence with the purpose of imposing their point of view and destroying what inconveniences them, said Ricardo Trotti, Director of Press Freedom and the Press Institute at the Inter American Press Association

Colombian journalists Hollman Morris and Juan Pablo Morris, creators of “Contravía,” an investigative series on Colombian television, aim to reveal the country’s history of long-running guerilla wars. A link between paramilitary leaders and high officials in Colombian politics has been exposed by “Contravía” causing the journalists behind the program several death threats.

Paramilitary squads have also been responsible for the deaths and disappearance of as many as 20,000 people, according to reports by the Columbia Journalism Review.

Colombia’s Victims’ Rights Act was presented in Colombian Congress in October 2007. The bill, if passed, will benefit the victims of armed conflict in the country. The bill would ensure reparations to those affected by death, disappearances, psychological harm, emotional suffering and/or financial loss.

In Venezuela, threats of violence have increased due to journalists protesting the recent wave of censorship against the media.

On Aug. 13, the Venezuelan National Assembly passed a new law called “Law on Education.” The law contains the prohibition of content that could cause “indiscipline, the deformation of language or what threatens the mental or physical health of the people,” according to reports by the International Press Institute.

Protests by journalists against the new law have been greeted with violence. At least 12 have required medical assistance after being attacked by government sympathizers.

More than 34 radio stations have been ordered to be shut down by the Venezuelan government. President Hugo Chavez defended the actions explaining that the stations had belonged to the bourgeoisie and are now run by the people.

The ousting of President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras has brought along reports of harassments against journalists who cover both sides of the political spectrum.

The de facto government issued a decree on September 26 prohibiting all public statements that could offend public officials or question governmental decisions, according to Human Rights Watch.

“The media is biased and access to impartial reporting is limited so citizens can’t make a well-informed decision,” said Agnes Callamard, head of ARTICLE 19, a London-based media rights group, in an interview with Reuters. “I do feel the situation is going to get worse. There’s no doubt there’ll be more violence.”

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Posted by admin on Dec 4 2009. Filed under National News, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry