Cuba and Venezuela are the two countries in the Americas with the worst
performance in freedom of expression, based on reports US lawmakers and
leaders of media associations worldwide discussed in a symposium held in
Washington at the Inter-American Dialogue.
Representatives of the Committee To Protect Reporters (CPJ), Freedom
House and the Organization of American States Special Rapporteur on
Freedom of Expression Ignacio Álvarez agreed that in 2006 "there was a
drastic decline in freedom of expression in the region."
Freedom House research director Karin Deutsch Karlekar said "in 2006
there was a drastic decline in freedom of expression throughout the
region." The president of CPJ Carlos Lauría concurred, claiming that
impunity in crimes against press professionals "results in
self-censorship" in Latin America.
Lauría, who visited Venezuela last week, reminded that "continued
polarization is affecting the way the press operates" in this country,
where legislations "infringe international standards on freedom of
expression." He added that efforts are under way "to restrict coverage."
Regarding President Hugo Chávez' move not to renew the broadcasting
license to 53-year-old private TV network RCTV, Lauría stressed that
"the (Venezuelan) Government has provided contradictory allegations.
While I visited Venezuela, I did not manage to access the evidence."
http://english.eluniversal.com/2007/01/19/en_pol_art_19A826335.shtml
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