.c The Associated Press
GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) - From Cuba to Argentina, Latin American governments are making new attempts to silence critical journalism, one of the Western Hemisphere's leading press groups says.
Luis Gabriel Cano, outgoing president of the Inter American Press Association, said an end to dictatorships and wars in the region have not meant an end to efforts to muzzle the news media.
In fact, Cano said, moves to restrict the press and silence voices critical of governments throughout the region are increasing.
"When this organization was founded more than a half-century ago, very powerful dictatorships existed in this hemisphere that censored the press without reserve,'' said Cano, publisher of Colombia's daily El Espectador.
"Today we remain on permanent guard against censorship, and unfortunately, the violence against journalists and against the media has proliferated in so many countries of our region,'' he said.
Venezuelan attempts to draft a code of "Truthful Information,'' Brazilian proposals to fine journalists for "publishing crimes,'' and Cuba's new decree for foreign correspondents all set dangerous precedents, IAPA leaders said.
Addressing IAPA's 53rd annual gathering here, Cano harshly criticized Venezuela's leadership on Tuesday for trying to create rules of reporting.
"Who determines what is truthful information?'' Cano told about 500 influential publishers and editors from throughout the Americas.
"The right of a public to truthful information sounds very nice. But those who decide what is truth can be very dangerous,'' he added, citing Hitler's Germany and Castro's Cuba as countries that control the flow of ideas.
Already this year, IAPA leaders said they have helped thwart attempts around Latin America to curb a critical press, including a move by Panama to oust an investigative Peruvian journalist from that country.
Winston Robles of the Panamanian daily La Prensa praised the IAPA and others for putting international pressure on Panama, leading the government to renew reporter Gustavo Gorriti's work permit on Oct. 15.
Gorriti had written several articles for La Prensa examining alleged corruption in the government of Panamanian President Ernesto Balladares.
Despite Gorriti's victory, Robles said Panama's press remains encumbered by "abundant and sometimes confusing legislation seriously affecting the media.''
"Many of these measures have served as a pretext for shutting down newspapers and other actions against media not in favor with the government,'' he added, urging Balladares to fulfill pledges to repeal those laws.
Separately, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo told the IAPA in a speech Tuesday that he opposed any measures restricting press freedom, winning loud applause.
Zedillo also promised exhaustive investigation into journalist killings in Mexico, vowing to punish all who commit crimes against the media with "all the rigor'' of the law.
"My government condemns and will always repudiate any attempt to intimidate or - worse yet - silence the press,'' said Zedillo.
Colombia and Mexico together accounted for seven of 10 journalists' deaths in the past six months in Latin America.
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