Angola: Concern over journalist's sentence
According to reports, on 30 March the Luanda Provincial Tribunal sentenced Felisberto de Graça Campos, director and editor of the weekly magazine Semanario Angolense, to 45 days in prison or a fine of US$1,200 for a series of articles published in 2003 that detailed the fortunes of the 59 richest Angolans, including prominent government officials. Mr Campos's sentence follows defamation charges filed against him by the defence minister, General Kundy Payama, who was included in the list of reputed millionaires. The list included politicians, economists, senior military officials, ministers and members of parliament.
IFEX Autolist (other news of interest)
From: World Association of Newspapers (WAN), [email protected]
His Excellency Jose Eduardo dos Santos
President of Angola
C/o Permanent Representative to UN
Email: [email protected]
7 April 2004
Your Excellency,
We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the
World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 100 countries,
to express our serious concern at the sentencing to jail of journalist
Felisberto de Graça Campos.
According to reports, on 30 March the Luanda Provincial Tribunal sentenced
Mr Campos, director and editor of the weekly magazine Semanario Angolense,
to 45 days in prison or a fine of US$1,200 for a series of articles
published in 2003 that detailed the fortunes of the 59 richest Angolans,
including prominent government officials. Mr Campos's sentence follows
defamation charges filed against him by the defence minister, General Kundy
Payama, who was included in the list of reputed millionaires. The list
included politicians, economists, senior military officials, ministers and
members of parliament.
Mr Campos was charged under Article 43 of the Press Law for "abuse of the
press" and Article 407 of the Penal Code. He faced a sentence of three to
six months in prison under the Press Law, plus an additional four months in
jail under the Penal Code. Mr Campos faces additional defamation charges
brought by other individuals named in the list.
We respectfully remind you that the criminal law is a wholly inappropriate
means of dealing with the issue of defamation and that such practice
contravenes a number of international agreements. We believe that a civil
award of reasonable damages is adequate and appropriate relief in all proven
cases of defamation.
We respectfully call on you to do everything in your power to ensure that Mr
Campos's jail sentence is overturned and urge you to take all necessary
steps to ensure that defamation is decriminalised in your country.
We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Seok Hyun Hong
President
World Association of Newspapers
Gloria Brown Anderson
President
World Editors Forum
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