President meets WAN delegation President Hugo Chavez meets a press freedom delegation from WAN: (left to right) Rafael del Naranco, journalist with the Venezuelan newspaper El Mundo, Marcelo Rech, Editor of the Brazilian newspaper Zero Hora, President Chavez, Roger Parkinson, President of WAN, and Pedro Ramirez, Editor-in-Chief of the Spanish daily El Mundo.
"It is imperative that the President of the country does not, in speeches and in numerous television addresses, use language that could incite violence against media professionals and media enterprises," Pedro Ramirez, Editor-in-Chief of the Spanish daily El Mundo and a member of the delegation, told Mr Chavez.
"There is widespread fear among media professionals in Venezuela that they cannot fulfil their professional activities in safety," he said. "The President must assure the media that they need not fear harassment and violence."
The President responded: "The attacks on journalists and newspapers are of course something to regret, but they are nothing compared to the attacks on Venezuela from the majority of the media." He contended that major media groups had played an active role in the failed coup that briefly ousted him from power in April.
"Most media in Venezuela are deliberately trying to undermine the President’s authority and do not show the necessary respect for the office, and for the Venezuelan people," he said.
Venezuelan journalists and media businesses have reported harassment, intimidation and threats, both before and after the coup, in an apparent government attempt to suppress critical journalism.
President Chavez has frequently spoken against journalists in inflammatory terms in political speeches and on radio and television but has spoken of reconciliation since the failed coup.
The meeting with the Paris-based WAN and the WEF was the first time Chavez has welcomed an international press freedom group since the failed coup.
"We hope that the President’s willingness to see us is confirmation of his willingness to seek reconciliation with the press in Venezuela," said Roger Parkinson, President of WAN.
Mr Parkinson said the meeting "was an opportunity to bring the concerns of Venezuelan media professionals and the concerns of the international media community to the attention of the President."
The delegation asked President Chavez:
 to fully investigate all attacks on journalists and media and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. The delegation was particularly concerned with the murder of photographer Jorge Tortoza, who was killed by a sniper who was shooting from a government building during an anti-Chavez demonstration on 11 April.
to ensure that journalists and media are allowed to work in conditions that guarantee freedom and independence and ensure that police protect media professionals and intervene when they are attacked;
to cease his inflammatory comments about the press that have encouraged mob attacks and other violence against journalists and media;
to include press representatives in reconciliation dialogues;
to fully respect article 143 of the Constitution, which guarantees press access to all information of public interest and to guarantee government transparency. President Chavez was also asked to guarantee that he and government officials will stop their de facto boycott of the press and participate in interviews and debates;
to publish the text of a proposed new information law, which has been sent to the National Assembly, to avoid suspicions that its objective is to limit freedom of expression in Venezuela;
to stop abusing the President’s right to have his speeches broadcast in their entirety on all television channels. Some of his television addresses have extended for more than five hours;
to eliminate any financial or moral support to the violent "Circulos Bolivarianos" groups that have been attacking journalists and media organisations.
Before the meeting with President Chavez, the WAN delegation held discussions with journalists, publishers and other media executives about the increasing threats to the country’s press.
In March, WAN and the WEF protested against the attacks on the press and asked the President of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, to help pressure Mr Chavez to stop violating press freedom in his country.
Members of the WAN/WEF delegation were Mr Parkinson, Mr Ramirez, Marcelo Rech, Editor of the Brazilian daily Zero Hora and Mogens Schmidt, Assistant Director General of WAN and Director of the World Editors Forum.
WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 71 national newspaper associations, individual newspaper executives in 100 countries, 13 news agencies and seven regional and world-wide press groups.
Inquiries to: Larry Kilman, Director of Communications, WAN, 25 rue d’Astorg, 75008 Paris France. Tel: +33 1 47 42 85 00. Fax: +33 1 47 42 49 48. Mobile: +33 6 10 28 97 36. E-mail: lkilman@wan.asso.fr |
