Miami (December 6, 2019) - The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) condemned the repeated onslaught of Brazilian political leaders against the press and reminded the authorities that in a democracy criticism and opinions are debated and should not serve to justify retaliation.
"There will always be natural tension between the press and the political power, but in a democracy the criticisms and opinions can be discussed and counteracted with other opinions, but they can never justify reprisals of any kind," said Christopher Barnes, President of the IAPA and Roberto Rock, President of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information.
Barnes, director of the Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner and Rock, director of the Mexican news portal La Silla Rota, reacted to the recent actions against O Globo y Folha de S. Paulo, two of the most influential newspapers in Brazil, taken by President Jair Bolsonaro and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro.
The Mayor's Office of Rio de Janeiro announced the suspension of relations with the newspaper O Globo, prohibiting its journalists from participating in press conferences and acts of the municipality. Mayor Marcelo Crivella added that he would refrain from commenting or answering questions from newspaper reporters whom he considers a "political pamphlet." He also threatened to sue journalists whom he called "rascals", "scoundrels" and "without character".
For his part, President Bolsonaro and members of his administration have retaliated against the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper for reports and critical editorials of his administration. At the end of October, Bolsonaro announced that the entire federal government would cancel the newspaper subscription, in addition to questioning private companies that advertise in that newspaper.
This week, Bolsonaro invited "all of Brazil" to "not buy the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper". The Secretary of Social Communication, Fábio Wajngarten, accused the newspaper of "defending a conspiracy for the exit" of Bolsonaro from the Presidency.
The report on Brazil presented at the IAPA General Assembly in October stated that the situation of press freedom had worsened, "especially due to President Bolsonaro's aggressive stance towards the press" and his intention to financially weaken newspapers.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1,300 publications from the Western Hemisphere; and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the defense and promotion of freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It is made up of more than 1,300 publications from the Western Hemisphere; and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
