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Bolivian Journalists Targeted in Attacks, Censorship

Cristina Caicedo Smit

   Protests have roiled Bolivia for about three weeks, leading to the
   ouster of Evo Morales as president.

   Increasingly, journalists are becoming targets of harassment,
   censorship and personal attacks by citizens from across the political
   spectrum, as well as the government. Some newspapers have suspended
   printing, and broadcast news outlets have gone dark, creating confusion
   and misinformation.

   According to the National Press Association in Bolivia, violence
   against journalists stems from political instability, among other
   reasons. However, public distrust of reporters hasexisted for years.

   The association has registered 64 attacks on journalists and 12 on
   media outlets this year in the cities of La Paz, El Alto, Oruro,
   Cochabamba and Santa Cruz.

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