(RSF/IFEX) – On 27 May 1998, Carlos Ardaix, a journalist with Radio Tabare de Salto (450 kilometres from Montevideo), was given a five month suspended prison sentence for “defamation” by a local judge. During a live transmission of the program “Nuestra gente”, Ardaix had read a letter written by the brother of a young woman […]
(RSF/IFEX) – On 27 May 1998, Carlos Ardaix, a journalist with Radio Tabare
de Salto (450 kilometres from Montevideo), was given a five month suspended
prison sentence for “defamation” by a local judge. During a live
transmission of the program “Nuestra gente”, Ardaix had read a letter
written by the brother of a young woman whose baby died while in labour. The
letter accused, without mentioning her, an obstetrician at Salto hospital of
failing to provide medical assistance to the woman, which apparently lead to
the baby’s death. According to the daily “Ultimas Noticias”, the judge
believed that the broadcast of the letter could damage the reputation of the
obstetrician.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
for apparent crimes of the press are no longer applied in the majority of
the world’s democratic states, except in cases that involve the circulation
of racist or discriminatory propaganda
further assessment by the court
Appeals To
His Excellency Julio Maria Sanguinetti
President of the Republic
Montevideo, Uruguay
Fax: +598 2 299 632 / 809 397Sr. Jorge Marabotto
President of the Supreme Court of Justice
Montevideo, Uruguay
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
