Brazil expels New York Times reporter for offensive story

[emad]

Gareth Chetwynd in Rio de Janeiro
Thursday May 13, 2004
The Guardian

<snip>

The Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ran into a political storm yesterday after an American journalist was ordered to leave the country for implying that the leader had a drink problem.
Brazil's justice ministry revoked the visa held by the New York Times correspondent Larry Rohter, describing a recent article as "offensive to the honour of the president".

Rohter, a veteran Latin American correspondent, had suggested that the former union leader might have been limiting his public appearances because of over-indulgence in beer and cachaca, a potent sugar-cane spirit. He was given eight days to leave.

Government and opposition politicians at first united to condemn the article as unsourced and libellous, while Brazil's presidential palace threatened legal action against the New York Times, which has stood by the story.

"This is not about freedom of speech," said the foreign minister, Celso Amorim. "It's about a story that is libellous, injurious and false. We never acted against anyone who criticised Brazil's internal or foreign policy but it is another thing to offend the honour of the chief of state."
<snip>
More:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/brazil/story/0,12462,1215417,00.html

[el_gato]

1. NYTimes has become a trash rag

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. This was in my LAT this am and I am of mixed sentiments about it

On the one hand, freedom of the press is of the utmost...on the other hand, the NY Times has demonstrated over and over they are an arm of the covert activities perpetrated by the corporate interests of our country and given their great weight in the world of public opinion are capable of creating great shit storms with lies and distortions..especially abroad and in Latin America which has suffered great unrest at our prodding.

[soleft]

3. Hi, this was posted earlier. Please discuss here. Thanks

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=550454