(IPYS/IFEX) – The daily “O Estado de São Paulo” has publicly accused real estate agencies in Ilhabela, on the north coast of São Paulo state, of trying to stop the circulation of the paper’s 23 March 2005 edition, which ran a story about the irregular sale of land protected by environmental laws. Newsstand owners in […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – The daily “O Estado de São Paulo” has publicly accused real estate agencies in Ilhabela, on the north coast of São Paulo state, of trying to stop the circulation of the paper’s 23 March 2005 edition, which ran a story about the irregular sale of land protected by environmental laws.
Newsstand owners in the city said a number of people approached them early in the morning and bought every available copy of “O Estado de São Paulo”.
Ilhabela Mayor Manoel Marcos de Jesus Ferreira, who is also an associate at Ilhabela Imóveis real estate agency, denied the accusation, saying, “It never happened. ‘O Estado de São Paulo’ has no proof to justify the story of the buyout. I want to know who these news vendors are, so they can tell the truth.” Spokesmen for three other real state agencies that were reportedly involved were also contacted but denied taking part in the action.
The newsstand owners asked to remain anonymous, fearing retaliation. Copies of the paper were also bought in large quantities in the neighboring town of São Sebastião.
The practice of buying all copies of a particular paper to avoid circulation of damaging information is common in the country, especially during election periods.
