Dominican Republic.- The president of the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), Gabriela Vivancohe pointed out this Saturday, on the third day of the 81st General Assembly of the organization in Punta Cana, that the American continent lives “under the shadow of a democratic decline marked by polarization and the advance of authoritarianism”.
In addition, Vivanco warned of the growth of “systematic disinformation and attacks against media and journalists” in his presentation of the Committee’s report within the framework of the IAPA Board of Directors.
Likewise, the president of the Committee affirmed that the IAPA “has shown itself up to the challenge” and has “documented threats in a thorough and timely manner with early warnings and with missions to countries in crisis.”
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In this sense, the IAPA carried out missions this year to Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica and Peru.
“The press freedom missions are a powerful example of the organization’s commitment and the solidarity of its members. Each visit provides direct support and a clear voice in the face of local authorities and risks to demand respect for the minimum guarantees that allow journalists and media to operate with freedom and independence,” commented Vivanco.
On the other hand, in her speech at the Board, the president of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information of the SIP, Martha Ramos, He noted that the organization has followed up on six emblematic cases of crimes against journalists.
These are the deaths of the Colombian journalist Guillermo Cano, murdered in Bogotá in 1986; Julio Daniel Chaparro and Jorge Enrique Torres, journalists murdered on April 24, 1991 in the municipality of Segovia, in Antioquía (Colombia).
Also, the SIP continued its surveillance of the murder of Mexican journalist Francisco Ortiz Franco on June 22, 2004 in Tijuana (Mexico) and his compatriot Alfredo Jiménez Mota, who disappeared on Saturday, April 2, 2005 in Mexico.
Finally, Ramos also commented on the case of the Guatemalan journalist Irma Flaquer Azurdia, who disappeared on October 16, 1980.
“Almost 40 years after the disappearance of the journalist (Flaquer Azurdia) The demand continues to be to clarify the facts, identify those responsible and guarantee justice,” said Ramos.
