Buenos Aires.- The Inter-American Press Society’s (SIP) 65th general assembly unanimously approved a resolution urging "the Dominican Republic Congress to maintain the current Free Access to Public Information Law in effect, and discard a proposed reform which in its view limit access to information of general interest."

The resolution was adopted in the Assembly’s final session, held in the Argentine capital’s hotel Puerto Maderos Hilton.

“A bill was submitted in Dominican Republic to modify the Access to Public Information Law which would seek to regulate and restrict access to data of government agencies," the resolution states.

The Resolution’s final paragraph states that "it’s requested that the authorities of Argentina, Chile, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic maintain their commitment to freedom of the press, establishing norms and resolutions that force the State to place its information at the public’s disposal."

SIP Freedom of the Press and Information Commission regional vice president Manuel Quiroz took part in the Assembly, where he expressed his concern with the future of unfettered exercise by Dominican journalists.

Quiroz, Editor in chief of newspaper El Caribe, said although the freedom of the press and public rendering of accounts with a varied flow of information and opinions exist in the country, several worrisome situations have arisen, among them the failed attempt to introduce a "truthful information" clause in the constitutional reform, which he said sought to hinder, pressure or restrict the media.

SOURCE: diariolibre.com