The Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) and the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) have slammed the Jagdeo administration over the cut-off of state ads to Stabroek News with the CPU describing it as a direct attack on the freedom of the press which would damage the government's democratic credentials.
The CPU - which groups media entities in Common-wealth countries - said in a statement yesterday it is growing increasingly concerned at the pressure being applied on Stabroek News by the government. Its statement is being issued to its members and has also gone to the Commonwealth Secretariat. The CPU noted that following the withdrawal of government advertising further pressure is now being applied on the paper through two state-owned companies: Guysuco and GPL, which have also withdrawn their adverts.
It was appointed out by the CPU that efforts have been made by Stabroek News to confirm with the Chairman of both companies, Ronald Alli, the reason for the cessation of the ads but he has remained "elusive". The CPU statement issued in London reported Stabroek News Editor-in-Chief David de Caires as saying that there is a politically directed effort to suppress the newspaper and that the government had no legal right to interfere directly in the affairs of public corporations or to give instructions to personnel in these corporations.
De Caires told the CPU that the newspaper would continue to fight against this undemocratic behaviour and argued that the action against Stabroek News should not be seen in isolation but as part of a pattern of arbitrary and authoritarian behaviour which did not bode well for the future.
The CPU said it believes that the ads cut-off is a concerted attempt to undermine the Stabroek News. "The control of government advertising is a powerful tool in attempting to control a free press and we urge the Government of Guyana to reconsider this attempt to bully independent papers into line. This is a direct attack on freedom of the press and will do the government's democratic credentials locally, regionally and internationally nothing but harm."
The CPU has around 750 members in 49 countries, including newspaper groups (with several hundred newspapers), in the Commonwealth. These are represented in the CPU by their proprietors, publishers or senior executives.
Meanwhile, IAPA has written President Bharrat Jagdeo reiterating its concern at the discrimination by the government in the placement of official advertising. In a latter dated February 6, IAPA noted the complaint received from de Caires in relation to the cessation of advertising by Guysuco and GPL.
"Mr President, we regret these new actions, added to the first cancellations of official advertising in the Stabroek News, are aimed at punishing the newspaper for its critical and independent style". IAPA, in the letter signed by its President Rafael Molina and Gonzalo Marroquin, Chairman of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, noted that freedom of thought and expression as enshrined in Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights sets out that the right of free expression may not be restricted by means such as the abuse of government controls or by any other means which has the effect of impeding the communication and circulation of ideas and opinions.
"We herewith urge you to abandon and correct the attitude of confrontation and punishment, which is contrary to the full existence of free speech and press freedom in your country. Similarly, we invite you to observe the Declaration of Chapultepec, signed by you on May 24, 2002, which states in its Principle 7 that `…the granting or withdrawal of government advertising may not be used to reward or punish the media or individual journalist'".
IAPA had also issued a statement last month on this issue where it expressed concern that the administration of President Jagdeo had "joined the list of governments that manipulate placement of advertising to punish critical or independent new media."
IAPA had also cited a resolution it adopted at its annual meeting in Mexico City, Mexico, last October in which the organization resolved "to reiterate its condemnation and repudiation of any discriminatory use of government advertising that lacks an objective basis, as well as other financial and administrative measures that may be used as a tool to reward or punish the media and influence their editorial decisions and reporting."
It had also called on President Jagdeo to "employ technical criteria in deciding placement of official advertising."
IAPA, with headquarters in Miami, Florida, is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending freedom of expression and of the press throughout the Americas.
Another regional organization, the Association of Caribbean Media workers had written President Jagdeo last month expressing concern over the action taken against Stabroek News and requesting a meeting. No meeting has yet been held.
While GINA and President Jagdeo have said that the ads decision is purely a commercial one Stabroek News has stoutly rejected this and said the instruction had been delivered to GINA by the Office of the President.