In a strong statement, the Press and Society Institute (IPYS) rejected any attempt to criminalize the legitimate practice of journalism.
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WHAT THE STATEMENT SAYS:
IPYS reiterates that anyone who considers themselves affected by a journalistic publication has the right to take legal action to claim alleged excesses committed through the media.
Journalists must be aware that this right is inseparable from freedom of the press, which allows the publication of any content of public interest without prior censorship. Journalism that exceeds its rights and violates them must face justice, through due process.
On the other hand, the IPYS rejects any attempt to criminalize the legitimate exercise of journalism of any editorial bias, whether by citizens or by the State itself. This may occur directly or indirectly, for example, through investigations into events that clearly do not constitute crimes.
Along these lines, the IPYS rejects that the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights has requested and obtained, from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Open a criminal investigation into Willax TV and the newspaper Expreso for statements made in a report about a human rights defender, presuming a crime of coercion. These acts seek to punish opinions, which may or may not be well-founded, but which must be tolerated when they are directed at people who participate in public debate.
The IPYS also rejects that the Provincial Prosecutor Juan Mendoza Abarca has opened an investigation for the crime of resistance or disobedience to authority against the producer of the program “Contracorriente”, Carlos Paredesof Willax TV, for not having delivered the video of a report requested by the Special Team of Prosecutors against Corruption in Power (Eficcop), which was not found in the archives of the channel, according to the media. The Radio and Television Law does not oblige the media it regulates to keep files beyond 45 days after they are broadcast. In this case, the files were requested five months after the broadcast. This could be an act of arrogance against a media critical of Eficcop.
Paredes is under another open investigation, along with journalist Augusto Thorndike, host of “Contracorriente,” for an alleged violation of correspondence from the Institute for Legal Defense (IDL). The program revealed bank statements from the IDL, which, according to the host, were sent to them by an anonymous source. The Public Ministry has not supported, as would have been necessary, evidence that would presume a violation of correspondence to open its investigation.
IPYS believes that judges and prosecutors should be especially rigorous and adequately justify their decisions when they decide to initiate investigations and proceedings that may affect freedom of expression.
