4 July 2023
The newspaper Página Siete publishes its final issue
In a statement published on the newspaper’s website, the president and director of the newspaper, for which cartoonist Abecor, recent winner of the Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning award, worked, announced that it was ceasing operations for financial reasons after 13 years in existence.
📢[CARTOONIST ALERT]#Bolivia
The president and director of the @PaginaSIETEBol newspaper, for which cartoonist @abecor_BOLIVIA worked, announced that it was ceasing operations for financial reasons after 13 years in existence.
More info 👉 https://t.co/VfbwDjIUIO— Cartooning for Peace (@CartooningPeace) July 4, 2023
“This is a difficult moment that fills me with sadness and anguish, as I am aware that independent journalism and democracy are losing an important ally”.
The press release goes on to explain the reasons for this decision, which combines economic and political factors, including the systematic harassment and obstruction organised by the government over the years, of which the cartoonist was one of the victims.
According to El Deber, the newspaper and its employees had been waiting for months for the umpteenth funding of the paper. Most of the journalists had to give up their salaries for several months. The National Press Association (ANP), quoted by the newspaper, expressed its concern and alarm about this decision.
Cartooning for Peace stands in solidarity with the newspaper’s editorial team and its cartoonist, and is deeply saddened by the disappearance of an important actor of Bolivia’s independent press.
