CUBA

CUBA WHEREAS there is no freedom of expression or press freedom since the dictatorship in power exercises complete censorship and annihilation of freedom of press, ideas and opinions WHEREAS independent journalists in Cuba are subject to constant persecution and in recent days the Cuban government has attacked foreign journalists on the island, expelling a foreign correspondent in February for criticizing it WHEREAS some agencies have experienced technical disruptions in their telephone equipment blocking communications to other countries WHEREAS the government continues to jail journalists solely for exercising the human right to free expression and for criticizing the government, calling these acts of high treason or rebellion WHEREAS Principles 1, 2 and 5 of the Declaration of Chapultepec establish, respectively, that “o people or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press; the exercise of this freedom is not something authorities grant, it is an inalienable right of the people;” that “very person has the right to seek and receive information, express opinions and disseminate them freely; no one may restrict or deny these rights” and that “rior censorship, restrictions on the circulation of the media or dissemination of their reports, forced publication of information, the imposition of obstacles to the free flow of news, and restrictions on the activities and movements of journalists directly contradict freedom of the press” WHEREAS Principle 10 of the declaration establishes that no journalist or media outlet may be punished for publishing the truth or criticizing governments THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE IAPA RESOLVES to raise its voice in protest of the fierce repression of freedom of expression and the press by the Cuban government to denounce the Cuban government for the systematic and continuous persecution of independent and foreign journalists for exercising the fundamental right to disseminate information and for attacking the right of the Cuban people to be fully informed to ask international entities to press the Cuban government to end the continuous violations of human rights, especially freedom of expression and the press to exhort the Cuban authorities to immediately release journalists detained for criticizing the government or simply practicing their profession by informing the public about events of general interest.