Supreme Court refuses to consider lifting ban on controversial book
New York, August 29, 2001—The Chilean Supreme Court has refused to consider journalist Alejandra Matus’ appeal against the court-ordered banning of The Black Book of Chilean Justice, her muckraking book about the Chilean judiciary. Matus’ book was banned more than two years ago. Since then, several court rulings have upheld the ban, even though a…
Radio station bombed in Medellín
New York, August 29, 2001—On the evening of August 23, a powerful bomb exploded in a street behind the Medellín offices of Caracol Radio, an affiliate of the national Caracol Radio Network, according to local news reports. The blast partially destroyed Caracol’s broadcasting facilities along with nearby buildings and houses. At least 35 people suffered…
Journalist murdered on eve of scheduled testimony in defamation case
New York, August 27, 2001—In a letter sent today to Rio de Janeiro State attorney general Francesco Conte, CPJ expressed deep concern about the August 16 murder of journalist Mário Coelho de Almeida Filho and requested more information about the case. Coelho was killed one day before he was to testify in a criminal defamation…
IN MEXICO, TWO SUSPECTS ACQUITTED IN MURDER OF U.S. REPORTER
New York, August 9, 2001—On August 3, a Mexican judge acquitted the two men accused in the 1998 murder of American journalist Philip True. Juan Chivarra de la Cruz and his brother-in-law Miguel Hernández de la Cruz were charged with True’s murder in December 1998. Municipal Judge José Luis Reyes Contreras ordered their release despite…
United States: Reporter jailed for contempt
Dear Mr. Ashcroft: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is a New Yorkbased, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom around the world. We are deeply concerned about the prolonged detention of journalist Vanessa Leggett on contempt of court charges. We view Leggett’s incarceration as a gross violation of press freedom.
CPJ sends letter of inquiry to attorney general
New York, August 7, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists yesterday sent a letter of inquiry to Adolfo González Rodas, attorney general of Guatemala, expressing concern about the August 1 attack by police officers against four Guatemalan journalists who were covering demonstrations protesting a recent tax raise. According to local sources, when police moved to arrest…
U.S. REPORTER JAILED FOR CONTEMPT
New York, August 7, 2001—In a letter sent today to U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, CPJ called for the release of free-lance writer Vanessa Leggett, who has spent the last two weeks in a Texas jail after refusing to turn over research materials about a high-profile murder case to federal prosecutors. CPJ believes that no…
Court refuses to consider lifting ban on controversial Chilean book
New York, August 6, 2001—The Santiago Appeals Court refused to consider journalist Alejandra Matus’ petition to authorize the circulation of The Black Book of Chilean Justice, her muckraking exposé of the Chilean judiciary that was banned more than two years ago. The Chilean judiciary seems unwilling to lift the ban even though a new press…
Parliament may repeal controversial information law
New York, July 25, 2001–After a firestorm of criticism from the Paraguayan press, Parliament has announced plans to repeal a controversial new access to information law that severely restricts the ability of journalists to obtain public records. President Luis González Macchi signed Law 1728 on Administrative Transparency and Free Access to Information on July 16.…
Horacio Verbitsky: Awardee 2001
HORACIO VERBITSKY is one of Argentina’s leading investigative journalists, and a columnist and press freedom activist. He has built his distinguished career by fearlessly exposing government corruption and battling restrictive press laws. A working journalist since 1960, Verbitsky’s relentless pursuit of a story has earned him his nickname el perro, or the dog. In January 1991, Verbitsky…