Asociaciones de la prensa denuncian restricciones a la información y judicialización del periodismo
Bolivian journalist associations have condemned the systematic erosion of press freedom and the right to public information in Potosí. Authorities are actively weaponizing the legal system to intimidate journalists, as exemplified by attempts to arrest a radio station director for invoking source confidentiality in response to defamation claims. This judicialization serves as a tool to silence critical reporting rather than uphold justice, prioritizing the protection of officials over legal transparency. Furthermore, public officials are blatantly denying citizens access to essential information. The executive head of a state mining corporation publicly refused to answer questions regarding the preservation of Cerro Rico, demonstrating an entrenched culture of secrecy. This refusal highlights a broader pattern in which state entities obstruct oversight of their actions, preventing the public from understanding critical management decisions and potential risks. This situation is critical to open data initiatives because it illustrates how legal and cultural barriers prevent the disclosure of government-held information. When authorities fear scrutiny, they actively suppress data that should be public by nature. Protecting press freedom is intrinsically linked to data transparency; without the ability to ask questions freely and access records, the open data ecosystem fails, leaving citizens in the dark about how public resources are managed and whether state institutions are effectively serving the common good.
Source: lostiempos.comPublished on 2023-05-10