[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 182 (Tuesday, December 15, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H9318-H9321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING FREEDOM OF THE PRESS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 536) supporting freedom of the press in Latin
America and the Caribbean and condemning violations of press freedom
and violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising
their right to freedom of speech, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 536
Whereas despite the strong tradition of independent and
critical media in many countries in Latin America and the
Caribbean, journalists in some countries are becoming
increasingly vulnerable to violence and government
harassment;
Whereas, on July 29, 2015, the Western Hemisphere
Subcommittee convened a hearing titled ``Threats to Press
Freedom in the Americas'' and Carlos Lauria, Senior Americas
Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists
stated that ``Scores of journalists have been killed and
disappeared. Media outlets have been bombed and forced into
censorship. . . . Censorship due to violence in Latin America
has reached one of its highest points since most of the
region was dominated by military rule more than three decades
ago.'';
Whereas in 2014, Cuban authorities detained 1,817 members
of civil society, 31 of whom were independent journalists;
Whereas in Cuba, independent journalists face sustained
harassment, including detention and physical abuse from the
Castro regime;
Whereas in Ecuador, in September 2015, the government took
steps to close the sole press freedom monitoring
organization, Fundamedios, for exceeding its corporate
charter, but the government relented in the face of
international criticism and potential economic reprisals;
Whereas in the country, forced corrections by the
government have become a means of institutional censorship;
Whereas according to the Committee to Protect Journalists,
Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries in the world
for the press;
Whereas in Mexico, over 50 journalists have been killed or
have disappeared since 2007, at least 11 reporters have been
killed since 2011, 4 of them in direct reprisal for their
work;
Whereas according to the Committee to Protect Journalists,
at least 4 journalists have been killed in Brazil in 2015,
many times after being tortured and having their bodies
mutilated;
Whereas Evany Jose Metzker, a political blogger in the
state of Minas Gerais who had been investigating a child
prostitution ring, was found decapitated outside the town of
Padre Paraiso;
Whereas according to the Organization of American States
(OAS) 2014 Annual Report of the Inter-American Commission on
Human rights, journalists covering protests in Venezuela were
subject to assaults, obstruction, detention, raids, threats,
censorship orders, and confiscation or destruction of
equipment;
Whereas, on April 21, 2015, a lawsuit within the 29th
District Tribunal of the Metropolitan area of Caracas charged
the journal El Nacional and its Chief Editor Miguel Henrique
Otero for ``reproducing false information'' and was forced to
flee Venezuela;
Whereas the Honduran national human rights commissioner
reported that 8 journalists and social communicators were
killed as of September, compared with 3 in 2013, and dozens
of cases in which journalists reported being victims of
threats and persecution;
Whereas according to the OAS 2014 Annual Report of the
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Members of the
media and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) stated the
press ``self-censored'' due to fear of reprisal from
organized crime or corrupt government officials;
Whereas in Colombia, there were 98 incidents of violence
and harassment against journalists, 30 were physically
attacked, and 45 were victims of harassment or intimidation
due to their reporting;
Whereas members of illegal armed groups sought to inhibit
freedom of expression by intimidating, threatening,
kidnapping, and killing journalists;
Whereas national and international NGOs reported that local
media representatives regularly practiced self-censorship
because of threats of violence from these groups;
Whereas according to the OAS 2014 Annual Report of the
Inter-American Commission on Human rights, throughout 2014,
Guatemala presented accounts of cases of harassment and the
filing of several criminal complaints against a newspaper
that criticized the Administration;
Whereas according to the Department of State's Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014 in Nicaragua, the
government continued to use direct and indirect means to
pressure and seek to close independent radio stations,
allegedly for political reasons;
Whereas according to the Department of State's Country
Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2014 in Argentina, a
survey released of 830 journalists throughout the country
indicated 53 percent of respondents worked for a media outlet
that self-censored content; and
Whereas almost half the journalists surveyed said they
self-censored in their reporting on the national government:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports a free press in Latin America and the
Caribbean and condemns violations of press freedom and
violence against journalists;
(2) urges countries in the region to implement
recommendations from the Organization of American States'
Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression to
its Member States;
(3) urges countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to
be vocal in condemning violations of press freedom, violence
against journalists, and the culture of impunity that leads
to self-censorship;
(4) urges countries in the Western Hemisphere to uphold the
principles outlined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter
and urges their neighbors in the region to stand by the
charter they are a party to; and
(5) urges the United States Agency for International
Development and the Department of State to assist, when
appropriate, the media in closed societies to promote an open
and free press.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include
any extraneous material in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring forward this resolution,
introduced by my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Sires), on the important issue of press freedom in the Western
Hemisphere.
Freedom of the press is the cornerstone of democracy. It is our
obligation to promote and protect this fundamental right, particularly
here in our own hemisphere.
Undoubtedly, Mr. Speaker, we have seen a troubling erosion of these
rights in several parts of the Western Hemisphere at the hands of
authoritarian, populist leaders, as well as violence against
journalists by transnational narcotics trafficking organizations.
In Ecuador, President Correa silences discourse and dissent by
intimidating and censoring the media. Hefty fines are issued for any
reporting unfavorable to him or his policies.
In Mexico, narcotics traffickers intimidate the press and violently
target journalists to silence those journalists.
In Cuba, despite the administration's naive rapprochement, a lack of
free expression is underscored by the continued political imprisonment
of anyone who dares to speak or write against the Castro dictatorship.
This resolution is an important demonstration of our support for the
fundamental right to freedom of speech and our belief that regional
leaders in the Organization of American States need to do more to
condemn what, in some parts of the region, has become the systemic
violation of press freedom. The United States must stand with brave
journalists who are on the front lines of exposing corruption in
government.
Earlier this year, Chairman Duncan's Subcommittee on the Western
Hemisphere held a hearing on threats to
[[Page H9319]]
press freedom in the Americas. One witness told the committee that
there is now a growing regional trend of government persecution and
harassment of journalists, as well as an increase in violent attacks
carried out by state and nonstate actors with near complete immunity.
I applaud Mr. Sires and the chairman emeritus of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for introducing this resolution and all
who champion freedom of expression as a fundamental part of a vibrant,
democratic tradition.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H. Res. 536.
I want to congratulate my friend from New Jersey (Mr. Sires), who is
the driving force behind this resolution, and my friend from Florida
(Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), who has cosponsored this resolution. The two of
them have really worked very, very hard through the years to raise this
issue, and it is good that we are taking up this measure now.
{time} 1630
Here in the United States we know that a free and open press is the
cornerstone of a strong democracy. We count on the press to hold
leaders accountable and shine a light on the challenges facing our
country. The work of a free press goes hand in hand with the
representative government we practice in this Chamber.
As government officials, we have tremendous respect for our friends
in the so-called fourth estate. So it is especially troubling when we
see governments right here in our hemisphere try to silence this
critical institution.
On May 1, World Press Freedom Day, President Obama said ``in too many
places around the world, a free press is under attack by governments
that want to avoid the truth or mistrust the ability of citizens to
make their own decisions.''
Unfortunately, that threat to press freedom is particularly acute
right here in our own hemisphere. That is why I am so glad, as I
mentioned before, that my friends, Mr. Sires, ranking member of the
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, the
subcommittee's former chair, introduced this measure condemning
violations of press freedom and violence against journalists in Latin
America and the Caribbean.
Mr. Sires and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen are leaders on the Western Hemisphere
in our Congress and are never shy to speak up when individuals' rights
are in danger. I used to be the chairman of the Subcommittee on the
Western Hemisphere; so, I have seen this problem firsthand.
Here in the Americas, leaders often speak out when electoral
democracy is at risk. That is great. But, unfortunately, those leaders
fall silent when it comes to the more subtle challenges to democracy,
particularly violations of press freedom.
We saw it earlier this year when the Ecuadorian Government threatened
to close down a press freedom monitoring organization known as
Fundamedios. Chairman Royce and I joined many in the international
community in condemning this effort. Fortunately, President Correa
relented in the face of international condemnation.
Still, attacks on press freedom in Ecuador are a daily problem,
creating a hostile environment for journalists trying to do their jobs.
A 2013 communications law put in place fines and sanctions for the
press. So it is no surprise that Freedom House rated Ecuador's press as
not free this year. The list goes on and on.
In Venezuela, journalists have been targeted by politically motivated
lawsuits. That is why it is such a miracle, what we saw this past week
or so with the Venezuelan elections.
Despite the harassment, despite the lack of press freedom, despite
going after people who would raise the truth, the Venezuelan people
weren't fooled and voted overwhelmingly against the current oppressive
regime.
That is good. It is good to see. But we need to make sure that free
press really exists not only in places like Venezuela, but in Cuba,
where the government has rounded up and detained independent
journalists just for reporting the reality on the ground. Just for
reporting the truth in Cuba, you get rounded up and detained.
In Mexico, drug trafficking organizations have brutally murdered many
of those who report on their violent activities. Just last week, the
editor of a Mexican newspaper called El Manana explained to The
Washington Post that submitting to drug traffickers' demands is the
only way to stay alive. He said: ``You do it or you die, and nobody
wants to die. Self-censorship--that's our shield.'' And in Colombia and
Honduras, journalism remains a dangerous profession.
This resolution underscores these abuses and the scourge of violence
against journalists. It reaffirms the important role a free press plays
in open societies, and it urges these governments in the region to do
much more to provide protection to those journalists under threat.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. I
again compliment Mr. Sires and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle
East and North Africa of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the
primary cosponsor of this resolution.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of our committee,
again, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), and the ranking
member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), for bringing this
important resolution to the floor in such a speedy manner.
I want to thank my dear friend, my legislative brother, the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Sires), for bringing forward House Resolution 536,
which is a resolution to support freedom of the press in Latin America
and the Caribbean and condemning violations of press freedoms and
violence against journalists, bloggers, and individuals who are
exercising their right to freedom of speech. I am honored to be the
Republican lead on Mr. Sires' resolution.
Basic freedoms are being threatened all over Latin America, Mr.
Speaker, by rogue regimes that seek to quash dissenters in any way that
they can.
Earlier this year we held a subcommittee hearing, as the chairman
pointed out, on this very subject of the threat to press freedom.
Carlos Ponce of Freedom House stated that, when it comes to press
freedom, only three countries in Latin America were rated free by this
organization.
Can you imagine that, Mr. Speaker? Out of all of the countries in
Latin America, only three could be labeled as free when it comes to
freedom of the press.
More and more, we see countries like Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua,
and Cuba taking steps to muzzle broadcast and print media into
submission, leaving journalists and editors no choice but to self-
censor their very own content.
Venezuela's 2004 Ley de Responsabilidad Social en Radio y Television,
or Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television, has provided
the legal framework to quash and censor the press, and its provisions
have been replicated by Ecuador and other countries in the region.
Due to the provisions in this law, television stations and newspapers
have been bullied by the regime or forced to sell their outlets. In the
case of RCTV, broadcasts were suspended by the Venezuelan regime.
Owners of Globovision and El Universal, both critical of the regime,
were forced to sell their outlets to business interests with close ties
to the regime.
Ecuador faces equally daunting challenges to press freedoms. A large
number of journalists are being sued. Watchdogs such as Fundamedios are
being harassed constantly. Newspapers such as El Universo are being
fined for running articles that are not in agreement with the regime.
In Nicaragua, the Ortega regime has also restricted media outlets by
making it difficult for journalists to operate. With the recent
promulgation by the Law of Sovereign Security, it has nearly ensured a
muzzle on all reporters.
Former President Cristina Kirchner of Argentina and her court often
demonize journalists and charge popular media outlets, such as El Grupo
Clarin
[[Page H9320]]
or the daily Ultima Hora, with inciting collective violence and
terrorizing the population. These are actual charges.
Mexico, one of our closest allies in the region, is one of the most
dangerous countries for journalists. This year alone, six journalists
were killed in direct connection to their journalism work.
In my native country of Cuba, despite the misguided normalization
effort by the Obama administration, the Castro regime continues to hold
total control of information. There is no free press in Cuba. Foreign
media outlets usually censor their own information because they don't
want to be kicked out of the country.
Last week, Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of meeting a Cuban artist
here in Washington, D.C., known as El Sexto, the sixth one. He was
jailed for nearly a year for announcing that he would take part in a
performance art that criticized the Communist regime leaders.
The mere announcement was enough to be jailed for almost a year.
Citizen journalists who defy the Castro brothers on the island are
regularly subject to death threats, arbitrary arrests, beatings, and
torture by the repression apparatus of the regime.
Mr. Speaker, this is a critical time for basic freedoms in our
hemisphere. Free and independent media are instruments to fight against
the scornful, tyrannical regimes that plague our hemisphere today.
We in the United States must remain ever vigilant amongst our friends
and foes in this key moment in history for press freedom and freedom of
expression in our region.
This vote today, Mr. Speaker, overwhelmingly supporting efforts like
the one spearheaded by our good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey
(Mr. Sires), is a good place in which to start.
I thank the chairman, ranking member, and Mr. Sires for their work on
this important topic.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Sires), the author of this resolution, the ranking member
of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, a good friend, and a
great member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Royce, Ranking
Member Engel, and all the staff for their support in promoting
democratic values around the world and in their efforts to bring this
resolution to the floor.
I also want to thank my good friend Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for serving
as the Republican lead on this legislation. I also want to recognize
the leadership of my colleague, Chairman Jeff Duncan, on this issue.
Freedom of expression is the key to a thriving democracy. It is the
number one tool to hold people and governments accountable for their
actions. In recent years, many organizations dedicated to freedom of
speech and advancing civil societies have been trying to bring
attention to the deterioration of press freedom in parts of the Western
Hemisphere, specifically in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Cuba has consistently been characterized as having one of the most
repressive media environments in the world, with the Castro brothers
controlling all aspects of the print and electronic media.
Venezuela and Ecuador have harassed and fined the media, shut down
press operations, and even physically attacked journalists who were
trying to expose the state-sponsored crackdown against peaceful
political dissenters.
In other countries, such as Mexico and Honduras, an increase in drug-
related violence and worsening security situations have created a
culture of impunity, allowing violence against journalists and the
press to go unpunished.
As a child in Cuba, I witnessed the deterioration of democracy as the
Castro regime took over the island and systematically destroyed all
aspects of freedom of speech and expression. There is a strong
connection between the country's democratic values and the freedom
afforded to their press.
Working to preserve freedom of speech and pushing back against those
who seek to quiet dissenters should be a top priority when engaging our
neighbors in the region. That is why I introduced H. Res. 536, a
resolution condemning violations of press freedom, violence against
journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to
freedom of speech.
This resolution condemns these violations and urges countries in the
region to implement the recommendation of member states made by the
Organization of American States, Office of Special Rapporteur for
Freedom of Expression.
This resolution also urges our administration to assist the media in
closed societies to promote a free press.
I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 536 to help foster better
protections for the press around our hemisphere.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me say that today we are
talking about a particular challenge facing the Western Hemisphere. But
let me say that we have seen a great deal in the last few weeks that we
should be optimistic about.
As I mentioned before, for example, voters in Venezuela recently went
to the ballot box to demand change. They did so in Argentina as well.
So we see once again that, despite all of the challenges in the
hemisphere, electoral democracy remains vibrant, but we have to keep
working to keep it vibrant.
But, of course, elections alone are not enough. We need to work in
partnership with our friends in the Americas to ensure that every
country has a robust democracy that includes a free and independent
press. Most importantly, countries must guarantee the safety of
journalists, especially as they courageously report in dangerous
places.
I, again, thank Mr. Sires and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for introducing this
important resolution. I urge my colleagues to support its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for their support of this
resolution, as well as the chairman of the Western Hemisphere
Subcommittee, Mr. Duncan, and, of course, the ranking member, Mr.
Sires, the author of this resolution before us today. I thank them for
the work they have done on the committee to bring attention to the
troubling attacks on a free press that have plagued the Western
Hemisphere.
Mr. Speaker, as Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1816: ``Where the press is
free, and every man able to read, all is safe.''
This resolution is timely and important. I am proud of the work our
committee has done to promote and defend freedom of the press, which
is, of course, the cornerstone of democratic principles. The United
States should--and must--continue to do more to help defend free
expression across the Americas.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, as a co-chair of the House Caucus on the
Freedom of the Press, I strongly support H. Res. 536 and its
condemnation of violations of press freedom and violence against
journalists, bloggers, and individuals exercising their right to
freedom of speech across Latin America and the Caribbean. Thomas
Jefferson once said, ``Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press,
and that cannot be limited without being lost.'' Those words ring true
not only for our nation, but for all nations and all people dedicated
to the ideals of democracy and committed to a democratic system of
government.
Whether through act and intimidation by the government or non-state
actors, the voices of journalists across Latin American and the
Caribbean--voices raised to speak out against corruption, abuses of
power, and criminal activity--are being silenced at an alarming rate.
This cannot be allowed to continue. I commend the House of
Representatives and the sponsors of this legislation for drawing
attention to this issue, and call on regional leaders to take all
necessary steps to foster, protect, and defend the inherent right of
their citizens to express themselves freely, publicly, and without fear
of reprisal. Every time this right is violated, the foundations of
society are weakened. We must all be vigilant and unrelenting in our
support of free expression around the world.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H.R. 536, as amended.
[[Page H9321]]
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________