In a note to Ashcroft, IAPA President Danilo Arbilla supported Leggetts right to keep her news sources confidential and refusal to hand over her notes of numerous interviews she had conducted in connection with the murder of a millionaires wife in Texas. A federal judge sent Leggett to jail on July 20 for contempt of court.
Following is the full text of the note:
"On behalf of the 1,300 publications in the Western Hemisphere belonging to the Inter American Press Association, we wish to express our bewilderment at the serious infringement on freedom of the press and free speech in this country represented by the case of journalist Vanessa Leggett, who has been jailed for contempt since July 20 after refusing to reveal confidential information to a federal grand jury and exercising her right and duty to protect her news sources.
"We hold the confidentiality of news sources to be essential for a free press and in the defense of all other constitutional rights. In this case, Ms. Leggett has protected it courageously, even at the expense of the consequences it might bring her in upholding the publics right to be informed. Furthermore, we declare that any journalist not acting as Ms. Leggett did would be failing to carry out his or her journalistic duty, while calling the legal process into question.
"In view of the numerous rulings the United States Supreme Court has made on the issue, reinforcing the provisions of the First Amendment, whose precepts have illuminated case law on press freedom and free speech in several countries around the world, we call upon you that these legal concepts be put to the Federal Appeals Court reviewing the imprisonment of Ms. Leggett.
"We know that the Supreme Court opinions and rulings on journalists maintaining the confidentiality of news sources will shed light on the case of this reporter and that her right and duty to protect her news sources will be recognized, with the aim of securing her immediate release.
"We also wish to state that it is a matter of deep regret for the Inter
American Press Association that at this moment in the Americas we have learned
about the imprisonment of two journalists for carrying out their work, one in
Cuba - Bernardo Arévalo Padrón, for showing contempt for President
Fidel Castro - and the other in the United States, Vanessa Leggett, for the
above-mentioned case".
(2 pages)
Free US journalist now, IAPA demands
MIAMI, Florida (August 15, 2001)-The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today voiced its concern at the jailing of American reporter Vanessa Leggett and called on U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to act to secure her immediate release.
In a note to Ashcroft, IAPA President Danilo Arbilla supported Leggetts right to keep her news sources confidential and refusal to hand over her notes of numerous interviews she had conducted in connection with the murder of a millionaires wife in Texas. A federal judge sent Leggett to jail on July 20 for contempt of court.
Following is the full text of the note:
"On behalf of the 1,300 publications in the Western Hemisphere belonging to the Inter American Press Association, we wish to express our bewilderment at the serious infringement on freedom of the press and free speech in this country represented by the case of journalist Vanessa Leggett, who has been jailed for contempt since July 20 after refusing to reveal confidential information to a federal grand jury and exercising her right and duty to protect her news sources.
"We hold the confidentiality of news sources to be essential for a free press and in the defense of all other constitutional rights. In this case, Ms. Leggett has protected it courageously, even at the expense of the consequences it might bring her in upholding the publics right to be informed. Furthermore, we declare that any journalist not acting as Ms. Leggett did would be failing to carry out his or her journalistic duty, while calling the legal process into question.
"In view of the numerous rulings the United States Supreme Court has made on the issue, reinforcing the provisions of the First Amendment, whose precepts have illuminated case law on press freedom and free speech in several countries around the world, we call upon you that these legal concepts be put to the Federal Appeals Court reviewing the imprisonment of Ms. Leggett.
"We know that the Supreme Court opinions and rulings on journalists maintaining the confidentiality of news sources will shed light on the case of this reporter and that her right and duty to protect her news sources will be recognized, with the aim of securing her immediate release.
"We also wish to state that it is a matter of deep regret for the Inter
American Press Association that at this moment in the Americas we have learned
about the imprisonment of two journalists for carrying out their work, one in
Cuba - Bernardo Arévalo Padrón, for showing contempt for President
Fidel Castro - and the other in the United States, Vanessa Leggett, for the
above-mentioned case".
FUENTE: nota.texto7
