WHEREAS the work of journalists, reporters, camera operators, photographers and media outlets in situations of social conflict is highly hazardous and entails a high degree of responsibility in order to achieve independent, neutral, balanced news coverage
WHEREAS Article 296 of Bolivia's Penal Code, which deals with crimes against press freedom, provides protection for the free expression of thought by any media outlet and the free circulation of books, newspapers and any other print
ed material, and it sanctions anyone who illegally prevents or hinders the enjoyment of these rights
WHEREAS Article 8 and 9 of the Press Act, which protect the confidentiality of journalistic sources and establishes that this confidentiality is inviolable, are in full effect
WHEREAS Article 1 of the Press Act of January 19, 1925, remains in full effect and establishes that "all men have the right to publish their thoughts in the press, without prior restraint, except as restricted pursuant to this law."
WHEREAS the Principle 1 of the Declaration of Chapultepec says: "No 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".
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES
To demand that the Bolivian judicial authorities uphold the independence and neutrality of journalism, media workers and media outlets, and that they refrain from distorting the role of journalists by requesting photographic material, video footage or information obtained while covering social and other conflicts. To provide investigators with material obtained under the principle of journalistic confidentiality would be to undermine basic principles of news reporting and would betray the impartiality, respect and loyalty that all journalists owe to their sources and audiences
To remind the judicial authorities that journalists cannot be made witnesses in judicial proceedings because doing so would inhibit them and force them into self-censorship while covering conflicts and other newsworthy events. Unless a person's life is in danger, journalists should refrain from turning over information and material protected by journalistic confidentiality
To urge the social sectors in conflict, as well as the general public, to respect the work of journalists because their it helps to protect democracy and preserve constitutional rights to freedom of expression, opinion and information
To demand that the prosecutor's office and other judicial entities uphold Article 296 of the Penal Code and to urge the legislative branch to maintain the legal provision that protecting the work of the news media, as a way of demonstrating that democracy remains in effect
To demand the return of the studio and equipment seized from Radio Fencomin, because the journalists and the media outlet are not involved in the ongoing judicial investigations into the violent incidents that occurred in August
To demand that the government uphold Articles 8 and 9 of the Press Act, which establish the inviolability of journalistic confidentiality and provides for sanctions against any publisher or printer who reveals confidential information to a political authority or private individual
To ask the government to cease its verbal attacks on journalists and news media outlets in statements blaming them for the conflicts it faces, because these attacks create a dangerous trend that could lead to acts of violence against media professionals
To request that the prosecutor's office complete its investigations to identify and punish those who assaulted camera operators and photographers injured during the confrontation between striking miners and the government.
