August 23, 2024, 11:48 PM
August 23, 2024, 11:48 PM
La Paz, August 16, 2024
MPR/VC/DGPC-0008-CAR/24
Mister
Pedro Rivero Jordan
DIRECTOR
THE DUTY NEWSPAPER
Present.
REF.: Request for rectification and counterpart note from El Deber: “intention to control dollars interrupts meeting with private parties”
For my consideration:
I would like to address you in reference to the note published at the opening of El Deber on August 15, entitled: “Intent to control dollars interrupts meeting with private parties”, which states: “Dollar control causes disruption in business-government meeting” (continuation of the note on inside pages).
I must point out that this note makes erroneous statements that also confuse information with opinion, such as the following: “It was coming. The much-hyped National Dialogue for the Economy and Production was left halfway. The handbrake was pulled on the recommendation of the Bolivian Workers’ Central… which suggested control of the dollars.”
In this regard, the meeting between the Government and the businessmen was not interrupted or broken off, nor was the dialogue left halfway, but will continue this Friday after a recess, as the same note confirms later with the subtitle “The meeting continues.”
It is also not correct to say that the COB’s recommendation and its alleged subscription by the national government is a reason for distancing itself from businessmen, since the president of these, Oscar Mario Justiniano, declared yesterday: “The Government is not aligned with the COB in proposals to control foreign currency” (DTV, note on its Facebook page).
It is surprising that a media outlet with such a well-known track record as El Deber has not corroborated the above with an official source or one from the business community and has published a note that distorts the national government’s openness to dialogue with all sectors of national life, including the COB, business people and many others.
For the above reasons and in accordance with points 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Code of Ethics of the National Press Association, of which El Deber is a member, I request that you rectify the referenced note and the corresponding counterpart, for which I remain at your disposal.
Sincerely,
Diego Prieto, Director General of Communication Policies and Strategies of the Ministry of the Presidency
The note referred to was prepared based on testimonies collected from business leaders who were present at the meeting with the Government and asked to remain anonymous to avoid reprisals. The note is supported by recordings of several interviewees who agree that the possibility of controlling foreign currency in Bolivia, as suggested by the COB, caused the interruption of the dialogue with President Luis Arce. In this sense, a rectification is not appropriate.
