**Updates IFEX alert of 22 February 2000** (RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Supreme Court President Hernán Alvarez, RSF stated that the “sentencing of José Ale to 541 daysâ (eighteen months) imprisonment for insults is deplorable”. The journalist was sentenced under the Chilean Law on State Security. RSF believes that the punishment imposed on Ale […]
**Updates IFEX alert of 22 February 2000**
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Supreme Court President Hernán Alvarez, RSF stated that the “sentencing of José Ale to 541 daysâ (eighteen months) imprisonment for insults is deplorable”. The journalist was sentenced under the Chilean Law on State Security. RSF believes that the punishment imposed on Ale not only restricts the journalistâs freedom, but also “constitutes a violation of the American Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees âfreedom to seek, receive, and impart informationâ”. In the letter, RSF explained that it “believes press crimes should be punished only by fines”. Supporting an end to prison sentences for press crimes, the organisation also “advocates the abolition of the Law on State Security”.
On 15 February 2000, the Supreme Court sentenced Ale to 541 daysâ imprisonment for “injuries” against Servando Jordan, former president of the Supreme Court, in an article published on 7 January 1998 in “La Tercera” newspaper. Ale was allowed to go free, but had to report to the prison authorities regularly in order to sign a register. Jordan also filed a complaint against Fernando Paulsen, director of “La Tercera”, when the incident occurred. The two information professionals were briefly questioned about the incident in September 1998. On 28 July 1999, judge Alejandro SolÃs decided not to accept the charges filed by the former magistrate. Jordan therefore chose to appeal the decision before the Supreme Court. On 15 February, the Supreme Court decided not to retain the charges filed against Paulsen.
Background Information
The Law on State Security was adopted in 1958, and established penalties of imprisonment for injuries or defamation against “the president of the republic, ministers of state, senators or deputies, members of the supreme court of justice (â¦), regardless of whether the injuries are produced while the person is exercising his/her professional duties”.
