Predator

Daniel ORTEGA

Presidente da Nicarágua desde 2007

(depois de um primeiro mandato entre 1979 e 1990)

Predador desde que foi reeleito para um terceiro mandato consecutivo em novembro de 2016

Nicarágua, 121o/180 no Ranking Mundial da Liberdade de Imprensa 2021

Dear [Name of Candidate],

I am writing to ask you what you plan to do to defend the First Amendment, freedom of the press, and the fundamental rights of journalists to practice their profession freely in what has become an increasingly hostile environment for information and news providers.

The United States, which enshrines press freedom in the First Amendment of its Constitution, is currently witnessing a drastic decline in media freedom. On June 28, one of the most horrific attacks on press freedom in the United States occurred when five employees, including four reporters, were killed at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. According to the US Press Freedom Tracker, which comprehensively documents press freedom violations in the US committed by national, state, and local authorities as well as private individuals, 33 journalists were arrested, 43 were physically attacked, and 15 seizures of journalists’ equipment occurred in 2017. In one of these incidents, Rep. Greg Gianforte physically assaulted a Guardian journalist the night before his state’s election. While covering the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, journalists were impersonated on social media, impeding their ability to accurately investigate the facts and disseminate information which could be vital to preventing a similar tragedy. This hostility towards the press not only risks compromising the American public’s right to be informed through journalists’ reporting, but can also degrade the public’s trust in the media itself.

This is not a partisan issue; it is a fundamental right that impacts every American no matter their politics. Journalism is at the crux of our democracy, and communities everywhere rely on journalists to provide them with information that is essential to their daily decision-making processes. It was local investigative journalist Curt Guyette who broke the story about Flint, Michigan’s lack of access to clean water in 2014, prompting years of class-action lawsuits, protests, and subsequent federal assistance to the city in order to try to resolve the crisis. Reporters Megan Twohey, Jodi Kantor, and Ronan Farrow publicized sexual assault allegations against influential Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017, leading to the ubiquitous and powerful #MeToo movement which brought decades of sexual abuse and harassment across multiple industries to light.

Yet freedom of the press in the US is currently in dire need of congressional support. It is our civic duty as one of the world’s leading democracies to uphold principles that support and protect the rights of journalists so that they may hold those in power accountable and ensure an informed and engaged community.

If you are elected, what do you plan to do to protect this utterly essential component of our democracy? What are your plans to protect the public’s right to be informed through a free and independent press?

Sincerely,
[Your name]

Hello, my name is _______ and I am from [city, state].

I’m calling to let you know that [candidate/representative]'s stance on freedom of the press is extremely important in my decision to vote. I feel that this is not a partisan issue, but a fundamental right that impacts every American no matter their politics.

I have become increasingly concerned with the growing climate of hostility for journalists in this country, and I would like for [candidate/representative] to publicly address what they will do to defend press freedom if [he/she] is elected.

Thank you.

Freedom of the press is suffering in the US. @[yourcandidate] if you are elected to serve in Congress, what are your plans to protect journalists and our right to be informed? Will you #DefendPressFreedom?

Democracy depends on a free and independent press and its ability to hold those in power accountable. [@yourcandidate] will you take measures to protect journalism and the First Amendment? Will you #DefendPressFreedom?

In June, four reporters were murdered in an appalling targeted attack on the Capital Gazette and freedom of the press. [@yourcandidate] what will you do to address the growing threat to journalists in this country? #DefendPressFreedom

Press freedom is in steady decline in the US. I want my representative to defend the work of journalists as well as my right to be informed. [@yourcandidate] if you are elected what will you do to protect a free press? #DefendPressFreedom

Journalists play a crucial role in our democracy by keeping us informed and holding those in power accountable. And yet in the US, attacks on journalists are becoming more common, undermining the media's role and creating opportunities for government overreach, the erosion of press freedom, and impeding our right to be informed. I’m contacting my candidates and encouraging them to defend press freedom during their midterm election campaign. Join me at DefendPressFreedom.com

A free press is essential to our democracy. Communities everywhere rely on journalists to report on our government’s actions and hold public figures accountable, providing us with the information we need to make decisions every day. And yet physical, verbal, and online attacks against journalists in the US are increasing at an astonishing rate. I’m contacting my candidates and encouraging them to defend press freedom during their midterm election campaign. You should too. Read more at DefendPressFreedom.com

Press freedom is declining in the US at an alarming rate. Physical, verbal, and online attacks against journalists have increased drastically in the last two years. As the US midterm elections approach, we must remind our congressional candidates that journalists play a crucial role in our democracy by keeping us informed and holding those in power accountable. I’m contacting my representatives and encouraging them to defend press freedom during their midterm election campaign. Join in and help me spread the word at DefendPressFreedom.com

MODO DE PREDAÇÃO: asfixia econômica e censura judicial

Desde o final de 2016, a imprensa independente vive um verdadeiro pesadelo na Nicarágua, constantemente oprimida pelo governo de Ortega e seus partidários da Frente Sandinista de Libertação Nacional (FSLN), que tentam por todos os meios silenciar vozes críticas. São ameaças, perseguições, campanhas de assédio e difamação, prisões e detenções arbitrárias e a “lei de regulação dos agentes estrangeiros ”, que visa monitorar de perto os meios de comunicação e as organizações que recebem financiamento externo. Ortega não hesita em nada para controlar a informação e montou um sistema sórdido de sufocamento econômico dos meios independentes: políticas discriminatórias de publicidade oficial, de concessão de frequências de rádio e televisão, de restrições à importação de matéria prima e materiais jornalísticos, auditorias abusivas, assim como pressões sobre anunciantes privados para desencorajá-los de comprar espaço publicitário em veículos independentes. O governo chegou a proibir, sem aviso prévio, em setembro de 2018, o fornecimento de tinta, papel e borracha, o que resultou no desaparecimento da maioria dos jornais impressos do país. Finalmente, em vista das eleições presidenciais de novembro de 2021, Ortega fortaleceu seu arsenal de censura ao abrir processos judiciais abusivos contra todos os seus adversários, tanto da classe política quanto entre os meios de comunicação.

ALVOS PREFERIDOS: a família Chamorro e a mídia privada

O proprietário de imprensa Carlos Chamorro, fundador do site de notícias Confidencial, e sua irmã Cristina, cofundadora da Fundação Violeta Chamorro, que defende a liberdade de imprensa, são os bodes expiatórios do presidente. Muito crítico de Daniel Ortega, Carlos teve que se exilar temporariamente na Costa Rica em 2019, devido às ameaças e ataques impulsionados pelo governo contra ele. Já Cristina, jornalista que se candidatou à presidência em 2021, está em prisão domiciliar desde 3 de junho, após ser acusada pelo governo de lavagem de dinheiro. Quase vinte jornalistas próximos à Fundação também foram interrogados e intimidados pelo Ministério Público, numa ação de opressão contra Cristina Chamorro visando impedir sua participação na corrida presidencial.

DISCURSO OFICIAL: paranóico e excessivo

“O terrorismo desinformativo, coordenado desde os Estados Unidos e cumprido ao pé da letra pelos meios de comunicação de muitos países, incluídos os da Costa Rica, é brutal, criminoso e xenófobo” (Maio de 2020, trecho de um discurso dirigido aos meios de comunicação da Costa Rica [La Nación, Telenoticias e Noticias Repretel] e dos EUA [CNN], que questionaram os números e o discurso oficial do governo sobre a gestão da crise sanitária).