Bolivia

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Report to the 76 IAPA General Assembly
October, 21-23, 2020
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The journalistic work faced difficulties due to violent reactions from people opposed to the health emergency caused by Covid-19 and the proximity of the elections on October 18.

The quarantine adopted by the central government was rejected by sectors of the opposition, which led to attacks on journalists.

There is concern that the newspapers La Razón and Extra would have been acquired with Venezuelan credits to the Bolivian state, through the "Bolivia Cambia, Evo Cumple" program, in force during the former government of Evo Morales (2006-2019).

La Razón and Extra explained that the purchase transaction was carried out through an exchange of private shares, without delivery of money involved. They described the information as a misrepresentation of a report from the Financial Investigations Unit (UIF) of the Ministry of Economy and that had the purpose of discrediting both newspapers.

The National Press Association of Bolivia (ANP), demanded that the presidential candidates ask their militants to stop the attacks on journalists. The message was issued after the beating suffered by the reporter Rimar Bejarano, in Sucre, on September 26, during an act of proclamation of the candidates of the Movement for Socialism (MAS).

On May 22, journalist Alberto Sagredo and cameraman Maicol Bustamante, from the Unitel television network, were beaten by protesters blocking the road in the municipality of Mairana, 140 kilometers from Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

On June 5, journalist Nayma Enríquez from Red Uno de Televisión, along with her press team, was attacked by merchants at a street fair in the city of El Alto who violated a provision on health prevention.

On June 11, protesters who rejected the preventive restrictions against Covid-19 tried to lynch a journalist, a cameraman, the driver of the mobile unit of the television channel Unitel and attacked a correspondent for the newspaper El Deber in the town of Entre Ríos, 212 kilometers from Santa Cruz.

On July 29, four journalists were attacked during a march organized by the Central Obrera Boliviana (COB) and organizations related to the former president's party in El Alto.

Sectors that reject former governor Morales, on August 8 they attacked reporters and television cameramen at the doors of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).

Between August 3 and 14, attacks on journalists were recorded during roadblocks and a COB strike demanding the early elections.

On August 5, in the city of Mairana, a mob attacked and stole the equipment from photojournalist David Sapiencia.

On August 12, a press team from Red Uno television was attacked by protesters who were interrupting the traffic of vehicles in the Santa Fe de Yapacaní region, in the municipality of San Carlos.

On October 7, journalist Juan José Toro was attacked by a group of mining cooperatives in Potosí. Toro, content director of the newspaper El Potosí, denounced for several weeks that businessmen organized in mining cooperatives were illegally extracting silver in the Cerro Rico de Potosí deposit. The attack occurred while covering a visit by a commission to verify complaints about prohibited mineral extraction operations in the area.

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