Bolivia: Prosecutor Requests Journalist Dalia Surubí Salvatierra Reveals Source After Defamation Complaint
The Coalition For Women In Journalism applauds reporter for refusing and upholding the integrity of journalism
Location: Bolivia, Puerto Quijarro
Date: September 4, 2023
Independent journalist Dalia Surubí Salvatierra faced pressure to reveal her confidential source from the Prosecutor’s Office. The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the reversal of this decision and urges authorities in Bolivia to respect the law and protections afforded to journalists.
"We will not reveal our source for anything in the world," says journalist Dalia Surubí Salvatierra in response to a request from the Prosecutor's Office in Puerto Quijarro, Santa Cruz.
The prosecutor launched an investigation into the journalist after a defamation complaint concerning a report published on Surubí’s Facebook news site Entre Comillas.
On her platform, Surubí disclosed the names of two women being investigated for alleged threats against an elderly person. In response, the women filed a complaint against the reporter, accusing her of slander and defamation and demanding she disclose the identity of her source.
Local journalist associations expressed alarm at the prosecutor’s attempt to pressure Surubí. They claimed the request violates Article 8 of the Printing Law, which safeguards the confidentiality of information sources.
On September 4, the Santa Cruz Journalists Association's legal representatives persuaded Prosecutor Freddy Durán to withdraw the request.
The organization's president hailed this reversal as a victory for the Printing Law and press freedom. However, Surubí expressed disappointment that Prosecutor Durán failed to appear for a press conference on September 5, where an apology was expected.
Surubí has been reporting news from Puerto Quijarro, a city on the border with Brazil, via Facebook for the past two years. She has previously faced intimidation and threats for covering protests in the region.
Source protection is fundamental to press freedom as it enables journalists to fulfill their role as watchdogs, protect whistleblowers, maintain independence, foster trust, and uphold the public's right to information. Pressure on journalists from authorities to reveal their sources is unacceptable.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism commends Dalia Surubí Salvatierra for protecting her source and standing up for her rights as a journalist. We also welcome the reversal of the Prosecutor’s Office’s request and urge them to continue to respect the law and uphold press freedom.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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