This period was the most critical for press freedom due to the closure of the second independent newspaper during a leftist government, the permanent harassment of independent print media, violence against women journalists, and impunity.
The closure of the Página Siete newspaper on June 29 confirmed the persecution in which newspapers that maintain their editorial independence find themselves. In January 2016, La Prensa had been closed.
At the end of October, the historic newspaper Los Tiempos of Cochabamba suspended its daily editions to become a weekly temporarily.
The exclusion from state advertising, tax harassment, economic sanctions through tax collection agencies and social security, and the intimidation of private advertisers to avoid advertising in the affected newspapers make up the characteristics of a worrying financial encirclement and governmental asphyxiation.
The denial of justice to journalist Daniela Valdez, who on July 24 was beaten and stripped of her work equipment by neighbors in a rural area of the city of Sucre, is a matter of concern. The National Press Association (ANP) complained to the Superior Court of Justice of the department of Chuquisaca about the unjustified delay in the process against the aggressors.
In the border region with Brazil, Puerto Quijarro, journalist Dalia Surubí resisted judicial harassment that demanded her to reveal a news source. This case is added to other judicial petitions that affect journalistic work with the attempt to violate the secrecy of the information source protected by the Constitution and the Printing Press Law.
Other relevant events in this period:
On May 29, the ANP expressed solidarity with journalist Junior Arias, owner of the DTV channel and producer of the program "Behind the Truth," who left the country due to threats he received while investigating Banco Fassil.
On June 2, several journalists were threatened by militants of the pro-government Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) while they were covering the occupation of the offices of the Permanent Assembly of Human Rights of Bolivia (Apdhb).
On June 16, workers of the La Luminosa Non-Metallic Mining Cooperative attacked police and journalists with explosives to drive them out of the area where municipal officials were placing "green area" signs.
El Deber received threats after publishing a story about the seizure of a cocaine shipment that was being transported by a small plane that crashed in Argentina. The association demanded government protection for the journalists.
On August 2, Santa Cruz Police Commander Erick Holguin verbally abused a journalist during an interview. He accused him of pointing his "little camera and microphone" at him.
On August 3, journalists from Contacto Bolivia and Red ATB received threats via WhatsApp for publishing articles on the case of a Uruguayan drug trafficker fugitive from justice.
On August 28, members of the Departmental Association of Coca-Producers (Adepcoca) marched to demand respect for freedom of expression after three radio stations were silenced. The Telecommunications and Transport Regulation and Inspection Authority (ATT) withdrew the operating licenses of Radio Yungas de Chulumani and Radio FM Bolivia. They confiscated Radio Activa's equipment for operating without authorization.
On September 13, several aggressors took over the land where Radio Metropolitana's antenna is located. The media outlet reported damage and dynamite explosions against workers who tried to stop the attack.
On October 5, MAS militants beat journalists from Red UNO and Unitel after a party congress.
