WHEREAS the new president, Bernardo Arévalo, has demonstrated an openness towards the press and expressed before an international delegation of the IAPA his intention to put an end to judicial harassment and to facilitate guarantees of access to public information
WHEREAS the previous government, led by Alejandro Giammattei, maintained restrictive practices towards the press, characterized by judicial persecution of journalists and limitations on access to information for independent media outlets
WHEREAS, there is still a large number of journalists who remain in exile due to judicial harassment during the previous administration
WHEREAS journalist José Rubén Zamora continues to be imprisoned after more than 600 days, and for more than nine months, his case has been paralyzed in the courts, and concerns persist regarding the judicial process, including the order to repeat the trial and the need to guarantee a process following due process
WHEREAS there have been cases of violence against journalists, such as the murders of Gleymer Renan Villeda and César Augusto Leiva Pimentel, with no significant progress in the investigations
WHEREAS the Declaration of Chapultepec establishes in its fourth principle that "pressures, intimidation, unjust imprisonment of journalists, material destruction of the media, the violence of any kind and impunity for aggressors severely curtail freedom of expression and of the press," and affirms that "these acts must be promptly investigated and severely punished."
THE IAPA MID-YEAR MEETING RESOLVES
Recognize and value the openness shown to the press by President Bernardo Arévalo, urging him to maintain and strengthen this commitment during his term in office
Urge the authorities to release journalist José Rubén Zamora, or at least allow him to continue the judicial process under house arrest, fully respecting due process and allowing the presentation of all relevant evidence
Urge the new government to create the necessary conditions for journalists currently in exile to return to the country and carry out their work without fear of reprisals
Strongly condemn any act of violence against journalists and demand that the competent authorities conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to bring those responsible to justice
Urge the government to continue promoting an environment conducive to the entire exercise of freedom of the press and access to public information, respecting and protecting the fundamental role of the media in democratic society
To offer support and solidarity to journalists and media outlets that face obstacles in exercising their work, reaffirming the IAPA's commitment to the defense of freedom of expression and independent journalism in the region.
