Whew! No News Blackout in the Pajama Republic
Dumas: Right now, today, July 2, I don't see any limit on freedom of the press. The four newspapers are putting out the impartial and true news... No TV or radio station has been interfered with."
Q. Are you sure that the press is functioning normally today in Honduras?
Dumas: I am absolutely certain... I have no doubt about it.
Q. So the rumors that are coming about censorship aren't true.
Dumas: They are totally and absolutely false.
Q. You are a representative of the IAPA, no?
Dumas: Yes
Q. And as representative of IAPA you support the coup?
Dumas: I don't support a coup because there has been no coup...
Q. The cutting of CNN was a coincidence?
Dumas: There were no cuts... right now the press is working independently without any restriction... That CNN is badly informing, I have no doubt... CNN is broadcasting on the payroll of the dictator of Venezuela Hugo Chavez.
Q. It pains me to ask this question. Should a representative of IAPA, who represents journalists like us, take sides in a situation like this?
Dumas: I'm not taking sides. I'm trying to be the most objective and impartial I can be...
Q. Pardon me. You say CNN is at the service of Chavez, isn't that taking sides?
Dumas: ...It is not informing the world of what is happening in this country
Q. Mr. Dumas. Are you saying that as a representative of the IAPA?
Dumas: I am vice president of the committee of Press Freedom of the IAPA in Honduras.
Q. Is what you are saying, has it been consulted with the IAPA or is it your personal opinion?
Dumas: It's my personal opinion.
Q. A vice president...
Dumas: For three years I've been informing with the IAPA... about freedom of expression in our country...
Q. It's clear. For you there is no repression, there has not been a coup, there is no disinformation, what is happening is of total normality, and it is CNN and the international press that is disinforming?
Dumas: Exactly.
Q. Thank you very much, Mr. Dumas.
What follows on the link are some videos of the army shutting down a radio station moments after the coup.
You might re-title this piece and refer more to the perspectives available at the link you provided. It's very informative and a lot of people that frequent TPM would have an interest.
July 3, 2009 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
That might be very good advice. My weakness is of course that I can't resist a pun. Thanks.
July 3, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forgive me for naivete, it comes naturally.
But you are saying that IAPA is on the up and up?
I mean Wolf Blitzer sure the hell aint. ahhahahaah
I just am not familiar with this organization.
July 3, 2009 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I'm not saying that - I should have been more careful with the satire. I've been reading tons of material about new suppression in Honduras, and it's easy to forget that most folks aren't reading about this.
But the IAPA could be on the up and up - in this example it's just Dumas speaking.
July 3, 2009 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink