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Joint action

Global organisations call for release of jailed Cuban journalists, criticise Venezuelan press laws and media interference in Brazil

(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 22 November 2006 IAPA press release:

Global call issued for release of jailed Cuban journalists and Venezuela anti-free press laws assailed

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (November 22, 2006) - The Global Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations at its meeting here today issued a series of resolutions on violations of freedom of the press, calling for the immediate release of jailed Cuban journalists and saying it would be keeping a close watch on the plight of individual journalists and news media in Venezuela.

The worldwide organization's resolutions were jointly adopted by the International Association of Broadcasting (IAB), World Association of Newspapers (WAN), World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC) and Inter American Press Association (IAPA).

The IAPA was represented by it president, Rafael Molina, editor of the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, newspaper El Día, International Affairs Committee Chairman Jorge Canahuati, editor of the Honduras newspapers El Heraldo and La Prensa, and Executive Director Julio Munoz.

The Coordinating Committee also issued other resolutions that referred, among other issues, to "interference in news content" in Brazil and "unlawful radio activity." In the latter case the organization declared that "in those countries where illegal broadcast stations operate, and cause harmful interference to the radio frequency spectrum it is fundamental that government exercise the necessary control by applying specific domestic legislation and the international treaties on the matter."

[ . . .]

(For the full text of the resolutions on Cuba and Venezuela, see: http://www.sipiapa.org/pressreleases/chronologicaldetail.cfm?PressReleaseID=1805 )