Journalist Bernando Neustadt, with the Telefé television station, was ordered to compensate Judge Elisa Matilde Díaz de Vivar for damages. The judge was offended by comments made by Zidanelia Pacheco de Maronese, in a 1993 broadcast of the programme Tiempo Nuevo. In a press release, the International Radio Broadcasting Association (Asociacion Internacional de Radiodifusion, AIR), […]
Journalist Bernando Neustadt, with the Telefé television station, was ordered to compensate Judge Elisa Matilde Díaz de Vivar for damages. The judge was offended by comments made by Zidanelia Pacheco de Maronese, in a 1993 broadcast of the programme Tiempo Nuevo.
In a press release, the International Radio Broadcasting Association (Asociacion Internacional de Radiodifusion, AIR), based in Montevideo, expressed its “concern and dismay” over the First Civil Court’s decision to order Neustadt, the television station and Pacheco de Maronese to pay 80,000 pesos (approx.US$80,000) in damages.
The AIR was of the opinion that Judges Claudio Kiper, Eduardo Ferme and Julio Moreno Hueyo’s ruling “severaly compromises freedom of expression”. The organisation further noted that the sentence sets a “dangerous precedent which will force journalists and the media to censure those who are interviewed”.
The lawyers representing Neustadt, Telefé and Pacheco de Maronese have filed an appeal with the First National Civil Chamber’s Court of Appeals, asking that the case be heard by the Supreme Court.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president of the Supreme Court:
– asking him to intervene and ensure that the matter is dealt with according to law
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Julio Salvador Nazareno
President
Argentine Supreme Court
Fax: +54 11 43 711 540 / 43 710 721
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
