MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

NYT questions Brazil's commitment to free press

The New York Times questioned Brazil's commitment to freedom of the press Wednesday in the event Brasilia expels a correspondent whose visa was revoked.

In an official statement NYT Executive Director Bill Keller pointed out that if Brasilia "intends to expel a journalist for writing an article that offended the president, this would raise serious questions about Brazil's professed commitment to freedom of expression and a free press".

Keller's statement was in response to the Brazilian government's decision to revoke the visa of NYT senior correspondent in Rio Larry Rother for writing an article which the government found libellous and offensive to "the president's honour".

Last Sunday Mr. Rother wrote an article titled "Brazilian leader's tippling becomes national concern" in which he quotes as one of his sources Leonel Brizola, a long time Brazilian political leader, former governor of Rio Grande do Sul and Rio do Janeiro and who was President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ticket companion in the 1998 election.

Mr. Rother's article was a summary of rumors circulating regarding President's Lula da Silva heavy drinking.

However the overall reaction in Brazil was of condemnation of the article and its claims, followed by a strong display of solidarity towards President Lula both from opposition and ruling parties, and public opinion.

The Brazilian Justice Ministry communiqué announcing the visa cancellation described the NYT piece as "groundless, false and offensive to the president of Brazil honour's", as well as "seriously damaging for the country's image overseas". The NYT correspondent was involved in "the worst kind of yellow journalism", insisted the government.

The NYT supported its correspondent saying that "we believe our reporting was accurate".

Mr. Lula da Silva "has moderate social habits, which are in no way different from the average Brazilian citizen", highlighted the Brazilian government statement.