BOLIVIA

Despite the seriousness of the social conflicts and the growing strength of those who seek to change the government by increasing regional autonomy, led by the civic movement in Santa Cruz, the most influential part of the country, and the call for a constituent assembly, there are no major restrictions on press freedom. During the mayoral election in December 2004, leaders of the Labor Federation of Press Workers in Santa Cruz said they had received informal reports from journalists who said they had experienced interference and pressure in two of the most influential television channels where they work. The reports said the channels openly supported two candidates and also supported a ?dirty war? that muddied the campaign and was condemned by many civic groups. Currently there is a dispute between President Carlos Mesa's government and journalists, press workers' organizations and representatives of written and broadcast media about Supreme Decree No. 27239, called ?On Transparency and Access to Information.? The media representatives have demanded changes in it ?to end a series of excessive and arbitrary acts contrary to existing provisions and rights acquired by the Bolivian people concerning access to information.? They also said that their organizations ?have been completely isolated? from the debate about the decree. The government official in charge of the proposal said that press organizations were invited to participate in the debate but did not attend. The representatives said they were not invited. As a result, journalism unions decided to declare a state of emergency and demand that the decree be repealed. They announced the beginning of protests against it.