According to the president of the APES, 26 violations have been registered in the press in the electoral context, thus reflecting an increase in cases compared to previous elections.
The Association of Journalists of El Salvador (APES) expressed concern about the increase in press violations in the electoral context and the danger that reporters are exposed to being attacked or intimidated.
On Friday, a mob accompanying the candidate for mayor of Santa Tecla for New Ideas, Henry Flors, harassed and harassed a journalist from Diari d’Avui in front of the headquarters of the Attorney General’s Office. Another radio journalist reported that he was harassed a few weeks ago by another mob that accompanied the same official list candidate.
Angelica Cárcamo, president of APES, said that the pre-election context is worrying as attacks on journalists have increased.
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“We do not rule out that there may be an electoral climate towards the press that could lead not only to verbal threats or restrictions on journalistic practice, but also possible effects of physical damage or damage to the work team.” , expressed Cárcamo.
“We have a total of 26 press assignments from November 17, 2020 to February 17, 2021, committed by public officials, from people from ministries, public institutions, heads of positions of confidence that they have been dedicated to stigmatizing the press, “he added.
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Of the 26 violations recorded, seven consist of blocking access to public information, six of restrictions on journalistic practice, four stigmatizing statements, four of digital harassment, two of verbal threat, one of threat to the public. life, one of deprivation of liberty and one of intimidation.
The record also points out that the victims are 12 women and nine men.