The President of the Dominican Association of Jornalists (CDP) charged that there ?are troubling signs? that the government is heading toward a confrontation with the press, and he urged President Hipolito Mejia to take the necessary steps to avert it. Jose Tejeda Gomez reported that his group?s executive committee had reviewed a series of recent incidents and decided to make its findings public. As evidence of the confrontational trajectory of the government, Tejada cited the ?physical aggression? against reporters in Hato Mayor, Barahona and Moca. In addition, he mentioned the accusations of bias leveled at El Siglo by Education Minister Milagros Ortiz Bosch, when problems with the school breakfast program were revealed. He also cited hostile remarks by the Public Health Minister in reply to an article in El Nacional alleging the extent of dengue sickness in the country. In addition, Tejada Gomez criticized the relocation of the National Palace?s pressroom from its long-standing vantage adjacent to the President?s second-floor office to a spot in the basement. On Thursday, President Mejia said that reporters ?do not always tell the truth.?
