Governors commit to Declaration of Chapultepec principles
CARACAS, Venezuela (November 15, 2011)—The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) this week held a number of university forums in Venezuela within the framework of its Chapultepec Ambassadors Program, with the governors of three states committing to uphold the principles of press freedom fostered by the organization.
In various ceremonies forums on the IAPA-inspired Declaration of Chapultepec were held on November 14 and 15 in three cities around the South American nation, with the strong university support.
The Declaration was signed by the state governors of Táchira, César Pérez Vivas, of Miranda, Henrique Capriles, and of Zulia, Pablo Pérez, as well as the mayor of Maracaibo, Evelyn Trejo de Rosales, the rector of Andrés Bello Catholic University, Francisco José Virtuoso, and the mayor of Baruta township in Caracas, Gerardo Blyde.
Miranda Governor Capriles, a pre-candidate for the Venezuelan presidency, said on adding his signature to the document, “I am signing with great commitment, I prefer critical media to there being a media outlet that only sells lies” He added, “For me freedom of the press and of expression is that everyone has the right to think for himself or herself, that everyone decides what newspaper and book to read, what television channel to watch.”
The chairman of the IAPA’s Chapultepec Committee, Miguel Henrique Otero, publisher of the Caracas newspaper El Nacional, during a ceremony at the Andrés Bello Catholic University in the Venezuelan capital stressed the relevance of the Declaration of Chapultepec in countries where its principles are not observed and there exist threats to freedom of expression.
For his part, IAPA Executive Director Julio E. Muñoz gave an historical account of the Declaration and reported on his organization’s agenda. Lawyer and journalist with the Buenos Aires, Argentina, newspaper La Nación, Adrián Ventura took part in the event as a “Chapultepec Ambassador,” emphasizing the relevance of the document’s 10 principles for there to be full freedom of expression in a democracy.
Táchira Governor Pérez Vivas declared that signing “this Declaration reaffirms the guiding values of freedom of expression,” adding that, “in Venezuela there is no political system that admits diversity and plurality.” He was speaking during a forum held at the University of the Andes in his state.
At the other forum held on the same day at the Zulia State Public Library before more than 100 students Maracaibo Mayor Trejo de Rosales signed the Declaration and said that each of its 10 principles “are rights acquired at birth, and freedom has to be defended.” Also, taking part in that ceremony was the regional vice chairman for Venezuela of the IAPA’s Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, Gilberto Urdaneta of the newspaper El Regional del Zulia, who gave a summary of the main problems facing the press in his country.
Andrés Bello Catholic University Rector Virtuoso said the Chapultepec principles were the basis of the curriculum of the School of Communications and he called on students to embrace these precepts in their future professions. He was speaking at a forum held yesterday before more than 300 students.
Prior to the event at the university Zulia Governor Pérez added his signature to the Declaration, declaring that its principles “reinforce the value of democracy and also that those in government should respect this platform, as it is the basis of liberty.”
Baruta Mayor Blyde also signed the hemispheric document and pledged to respect its principles.
The IAPA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of freedom of the press and of expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1,300 print publications from throughout the Western Hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida. For more information please go to http://www.sipiapa.org.