Forwarded message:
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 95 13:23 EDT
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Christian Task Force on Central America BC)
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: urgent action
April 6, 1995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------URGENT
ACTION - NICARAGUA - URGENT ACTION -
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POLICE ASSAULT JOURNALISTS DURING WORKERS'
DEMONSTRATION
Dear Friends,
We have received news today from the Journalists' Centre for
Freedom of Expression (CEPEX) in San Salvador via the
International Freedom of Expression Exchange Clearing House (IFEX)
in Toronto that on March 31st, heavily armed riot police assaulted
journalists from both the print and electronic media who were
covering a workers' demonstration at the only match factory in
Nicaragua. The workers were protesting to demand a share of
company stock.
Marvin Vasquez, a journalist with the radio station, Radio Ya, was
beaten by police and said that from then on he had lost all
respect for the "sanctity" of the National Police force (PN).
Television journalist, Juan Edgard Zelaya, a reporter with the
Independent News program on Channel 8, was also assaulted. The
attacks received heavy coverage in the print media and most
television news programs dedicated several minutes to the violent
incidents at the match factory.
The chief of the PN, Commander Fernando Caldera, pledged to
conduct an investigation into the attacks on the journalists and
to sanction those resp0onsible according to the police
disciplinary code. Although Caldera refused to confirm beyond a
doubt that journalists had been assaulted during the break-up of
the demonstration, he did admit that initial reports indicated
that some journalist may have, in fact, been attacked by police.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
According to CEPEX, riot police have assaulted journalists on at
least six similar occasions over the past two years. Only in the
case of journalist Melba Sandino were those responsible punished.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please write to President Chamorro urging her to ensure that an
investigation does in fact take place into the police violence and
that the perpetrators are brought to justice. Please urge her to
ensure that the police are informed that journalists must have the
right to cover demonstrations.
Please also send messages to the Canadian Minister of Foreign
Affairs, citing the violent acts of the police and urging him to
express the concern of the Canadian government, requesting that an
investigation take place so that those responsible are brought to
justice.
Please send copies of this message to the Foreign Affairs critics
for the NDP and Reform Party. (Eastern Canada covers the Bloc
Qubecois.)
ADDRESSES
Presidenta de la Republica de Nicaragua, FAX:
011-505-2-627911 Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, Casa de Gobierno
Apartado 2398 Managua, Nicaragua
Hon. Andr Ouellet, FAX: 1
613 996 3443 Minister of Foreign Affairs
Phone: 1-613-995-8872 House of Commons, Ottawa Ontario, K1A 0A6
Svend Robinson, M.P. (NDP) FAX:
1-613-992-5501 Bob Mills, M.P. (Reform Party)
FAX: 1-613-995-6831
Both at House of Commons. No postage necessary to mail there.
Thank you for your support.
