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CIS
Boulevard Universitario #4
Colonia El Roble
San Salvador, El Salvador
Centroamérica
Tel/FAX: +503 226-2623
cis_elsalvador@yahoo.com
Television Journalist
Mauricio Funes and seven
Channel 12 staff members abruptly fired! Protest this
undermining of free speech in El Salvador!
February 23, 2005
Mauricio Funes, host of the Entrevista al Día (“Daily Interview”) on Channel 12, was fired by channel directors on February 18 following the arbitrary dismissal three days prior of seven Channel 12 employees with whom he worked closely in the preparation of his programs.[1] On Wednesday, February 16, when Funes attempted to denounce the firing of his colleagues during the morning interview program, he was abruptly taken off the air.[2] Channel 12 directors fired him the following Friday, having prevented him from resuming the program in the interim. Neither he nor his colleagues have been offered justification for their dismissal.
Mauricio Funes is widely respected for his integrity and independence as a journalist. No doubt because of those qualities, his investigative reporting seems to have aroused the ire of certain powerful interests in El Salvador. In March 2003 the program Sin Censura (“Uncensored”) was taken off the air by Channel 12 management following Funes’ criticism of government relief effort mismanagement following the 2001 earthquakes.[3] The elimination of the program was ostensibly a response to financial pressure generated by a boycott of Channel 12 by large advertisers. (Some also speculate that the termination of Sin Censura may have been timed to coincide with the Municipal and Legislative Assembly elections of 2003, preventing broader coverage of the electoral success of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN).)
Given his strident criticism of corruption and abuse of power, Funes’ dismissal places in doubt the future of free speech and press in El Salvador. Furthermore, the shift in Channel 12 coverage that may follow his departure will result in even greater content uniformity among Salvadoran media outlets, restricting access to different opinions on key public issues.
TAKE
ACTION!
We need you to send letters denouncing this
situation to the Channel 12 Directors in El Salvador, TV Azteca in
Mexico (the station that owns Channel 12), and President of the Republic of
El Salvador, Elias Antonio Saca. Contact information and sample letters are
below.
TV Azteca
José Luis Rodríguez Pérez
Director of Public Relations
jlrodriguezpe@tvazteca.com.mx
(01 55) 1720-1313 Ext. 31342
Channel 12
Manuel Corona
Director of Production
Miguel Peña
Director of Finance
canal12@canal12.com.sv
investigacion@canal12.com.sv
There is also an online comment form available at: http://www.tvdoce.com.sv/site/main_contactenos.html
President Saca:
To send letters to President Antonio Saca, please access the online form available at the following URL:
http://www.casapres.gob.sv/prescartas.htm
Please CC the CIS (cis_elsalvador@yahoo.com)
or send us copies of your letters so that we know you are taking action
around this issue.
Sample
Letter to Channel 12 (See
Translation):
Señores
Miguel Peña y Manuel Corona
Director de Finanzas y Director de Producción respectivamente
TV Doce
Presentes.
Estimados Señores Miguel Peña y Manuel Corona
Le escribo con relación al despido del periodista Salvadoreño Mauricio Funes del Canal 12. Bien sé que esto es una decisión tomada por la junta directiva de TV Azteca, pero dirijo mis preocupaciones a ustedes como los responsables de ejecutar el despido.
Me preocupa mucho la forma arbitraria en que ha sido despedido el Lic. Funes y su equipo, dada que ellos no tienen mayor información acerca de las razones porque han sido despedidos. También preocupante es el hecho de que este despido tiene antecedente, lo cual fue la cancelación del programa “Sin Censura” por la dirección del Canal 12 en marzo de 2003, sugiriendo un intento por parte del canal de censurar esta fuente importante de información.
Les pido que comunique mis preocupaciones a las autoridades correspondientes, para que valúen de nuevo esta decisión de despedir Lic. Funes. Su despido representa un retroceso en cuanto a la libre expresión y accesso a información en El Salvador, y por lo tanto un atentado en contra de procesos de democratización.
Por su tiempo, le agradezco de antemano.
Atentamente,
Your
Name, Title
Your Country
Sample
Letter to TV Azteca
(See Translation):
José Luis Rodríguez Pérez
Director de Relaciones Publicas
TV Azteca
Presente.
Estimado Señor Rodríguez:
Le escribo con relación al despido del periodista Mauricio Funes del Canal 12 en El Salvador, canal que pertenece a TV Azteca. Bien sé que esto es un a decisión tomada por la junta directiva de TV Azteca, pero como Director de Relaciones Publicas, dirijo mis preocupaciones a usted con la expectativa que les transmite a las autoridades correspondientes.
Me preocupa mucho la forma arbitraria en que ha sido despedido el Lic. Funes y su equipo, dada que ellos no tienen mayor información acerca de las razones porque han sido despedidos. También preocupante es el hecho de que este despido tiene antecedente, lo cual fue la cancelación del programa “Sin Censura” por la dirección del Canal 12 en marzo de 2003, sugiriendo un intento por parte del canal de censurar esta fuente importante de información.
Le pido, con todo respeto, que comunique mis preocupaciones a la junta directiva, para que valúen de nuevo esta decisión. Representa un retroceso en cuanto a la libre expresión y accesso a información en El Salvador, y por lo tanto un atentado en contra de procesos de democratización.
Por su tiempo, le agradezco de antemano.
Atentamente,
Your
Name, Title
Your Country
Sample Letter to President Elias Antonio Saca
(See Translation):
Excelentísimo Presidente de
la Republica de El Salvador
Señor Elías Antonio Saca
Presente.
Estimado Presidente Saca:
Le escribo con relación al despido del periodista Mauricio Funes del Canal 12.
Me preocupa mucho la forma arbitraria en que ha sido despedido el Lic. Funes y su equipo, dada que ellos no tienen mayor información acerca de las razones porque han sido despedidos. Tal vez más preocupante es el hecho de que este despido tiene antecedente, lo cual fue la cancelación del programa “Sin Censura” por la dirección del Canal 12 en marzo de 2003, sugiriendo un intento por parte del canal de censurar esta fuente importante de información.
Me parece que este despido representa un retroceso en cuanto a la libre expresión en El Salvador, y por lo tanto un atentado en contra de procesos de democratización. Le ruego que usted haga todo lo posible para asegurar respeto por el derecho de libre expresión y accesso a información, dada que es clave para el desarrollo de un pueblo.
Por su tiempo, le agradezco de antemano.
Atentamente,
Your
Name, Title
Your Country
Translation of Sample Letter to Channel 12
(Back to Spanish Version):
Sirs
Miguel Peña and Manuel Corona
Fiance Director and Production Director, Respectively
Channel 12
Dear Mr. Miguel Peña and Mr. Manuel Corona:
I write to you regarding the firing of jounalist Maruicio Funes from Channel 12. I know that this decision was made by the Board of Directors of TV Azteca, but I direct my concerns to you as the individuals responsible for executing the dismissal.
I am very concerned about the arbitrary manner in which Mr. Funes and his team were fired. They have not been offered any information regarding the reasons for their dismissal. Also worrisome the fact that this firing has an antecedent, which was the cancellation of the program "Uncensored" by the directorship of Channel 12 in March 2003. This suggests an intent on the part of the Channel to silence this important public source of information.
I ask that you communicate my concerns to the relevant authorities, so that they reevaluate the decision to dismiss Mr. Funes. His firing represents a rollback of the right to free expression and access to information in El Salvador, and for that reason an attack on democratization processes.
For you time, I thank you.
Sincerely,
Your
Name, Title
Your Country
Translation of Sample Letter to TV Azteca (Back to Spanish Version):
José Luis Rodríguez Pérez
Director of Public Relations
TV Azteca
Dear Mr. Rodríguez:
I write to you regarding the firing of jounalist Maruicio Funes from Channel 12. I know that this decision was made by the Board of Directors of TV Azteca, but as Director of Public Relations I direct my concerns to you with the expectation that you will pass them on to the relevant authorities.
I am very concerned about the arbitrary manner in which Mr. Funes and his team were fired. They have not been offered any information regarding the reasons for their dismissal. Also worrisome the fact that this firing has an antecedent, which was the cancellation of the program "Uncensored" by the directorship of Channel 12 in March 2003. This suggests an intent on the part of the Channel to silence this important public source of information.
I respectfully ask that you communicate my concerns to Board of Directors, so that they reevaluate this decision. It represents rollback of the right to free expression and access to information in El Salvador, and for that reason an attack on democratization processes.
For you time, I thank you.
Sincerely,
Your
Name, Title
Your Country
Translation of Sample Letter to Pres. Saca (Back to Spanish Version):
Presidente
of the Republic of El Salvador
Mr. Elías Antonio Saca
Dear President Saca:
I write to you regarding the firing of jounalist Maruicio Funes from Channel 12.
I am very concerned about the arbitrary manner in which Mr. Funes and his team were fired. They have not been offered any information regarding the reasons for their dismissal. Also worrisome the fact that this firing has an antecedent, which was the cancellation of the program "Uncensored" by the directorship of Channel 12 in March 2003. This suggests an intent on the part of the Channel to silence this important public source of information.
It seems to me that this firing represents a rollback of the right to free expression in El Salvador, and for that reason, an attack on democratization processes. I ask that you do everything possible to ensure respect for the right to free expression and access to information, given that it is key to the development of a people.
For you time, I thank you.
Sincerely,
Your
Name, Title
Your Country
Notes:
[1] Patricia Meza y Gloria Silvia Orellana. “Periodista Mauricio Funes fue despedido de Canal 12.” Diario CoLatino, February 19, 2005 <http://www.diariocolatino.com/nacionales/detalles.asp?NewsID=7080> February 21, 2005.
[2] PROBIDAD, “Journalist taken off the air during broadcast of his program.” International Freedom of Expression Exchange. February 18, 2005. <http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/64596/> February 21, 2005.
[3] “Outcry over firing of TV news director and presenter Mauricio Funes,” Reporters Without Borders, February 21, 2005. <http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12612> February 22, 2005.