**For background on “Ziua” case, see IFEX alert dated 12 June 1995** On 26 July 1995, the Romanian government announced it would take legal action against Petre Mihai Bacanu, editor-in-chief of the opposition daily “Romania Libera”, for “insult to authority, contempt and libel.” Petre Mihai Bacanu had authored a front page article titled “(Nicolae) Vacaroiu’s […]
**For background on “Ziua” case, see IFEX alert
dated 12 June 1995**
On 26 July 1995, the Romanian government announced it would take
legal action against Petre Mihai Bacanu, editor-in-chief of the
opposition daily “Romania Libera”, for “insult to authority,
contempt and libel.” Petre Mihai Bacanu had authored a front page
article titled “(Nicolae) Vacaroiu’s tanker trucks,” which
appeared in the 26 July edition of the newspaper. The article
claimed that the Romanian Prime Minister authorized the illegal
transfer of almost 2000 tons of fuel to the former Yugoslavia, in
violation of an international embargo. According to “Romania
Libera”, the money made from the sale would have allegedly gone
into the coffers of the ruling party. The paper cites a director
of the power station in Serbia, where the trucks were allegedly
loaded. If formal charges are brought against him, Petre Mihai
Bacanu could face six months to three years in prison. Two
spokespersons publicly announced the government’s intention to
pursue legal action.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Romanian authorities:
authority”/”libel against authority” charges against the press in
Romania
taken against the media
all forms of censorship of Romanian state and independent media
Appeals To
His Excellency Ion Iliescu
President
Office of the President
Piata Victoriei 49-53
Bucharest, Romania
Fax: +40 1 312 11 79
the Romanian diplomatic representative in your country
the diplomatic representative of your country in Romania
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
