IAPA General Assembly Receives Reports on Press Freedom

MERIDA, Mexico – Representatives from news organizations in the Americas and around the world gathered this weekend for the 66th General Assembly of the Inter-American Press Association, which continues through Tuesday in Mérida, Mexico.

Some of the highlights of the country reports from Central America have included: the existence of a proposal to reform the Constitution in Costa Rica expanding the existing right to reply to include opinion pieces, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli continues to criticize the press for the way it covers events such as the strike in the border province of Bocas del Toro earlier this year, and the government of President Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua has increased its inspection and auditing of private companies such as the daily newspaper La Prensa as a form of intimidation and restriction on press freedom.

At today’s luncheon, keynote speaker stressed the importance of reacting quickly to increased crime in a country as a result of drug trafficking, stressing that waiting would only makes it worse.  He further emphasized the need for Mexico, Central America and Colombia to work together in resisting drug traffickers.

For more on this story, see the November 12 print or digital edition of The Tico Times.