Timor Leste: Defend independent journalist Jose Belo!

Independent journalist Jose Belo has been charged with criminal defamation for an article he published in East Timor. In support of him, a group of journalists, academics and others have prepared this letter to the President of East Timor, Jose Ramos- Horta. If you are prepared to sign this letter, please email wendybacon1@gmail.com as soon as possible. The letter will be sent to Ramos-Horta and publicised through the media. If you want to know more about this issue, please follow the links below:

http://www.theage.com.au/world/freedom-of-speech-fighter-20090131-7ufu.h...

http://www.temposemanaltimor.blogspot.com/2008/10/tempo-semanal-edition-...

http://timor-online.blogspot.com/2009/02/east-timor-editor-sued-by-minis...

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President of East Timor,
Mr. Ramos-Horta

Dear Mr Ramos-Horta,
We are deeply concerned to learn that journalist Jose Belo is being charged with criminal defamation following the publication of an article in his newspaper Tempo Semanal alleging improper conduct by Justice Minister Lucia Lobato.
While making no comment on the merits of his allegations, we are disturbed by the application of criminal defamation laws against one of East Timor's bravest and most respected journalists.
Belo's role in documenting the atrocities of the Indonesian occupation and disseminating that information to the international media is well known. Since self government, Jose has emerged as one of the most
productive, disciplined and independent journalists that East Timor has produced. He has become a key figure in the attempt to build a democratic media in your country. To be imprisoned by your government
would be a great injustice to Jose and more importantly, a terrible precedent for all media in East Timor. Such laws criminalise and suppress good journalism, they help cloak corrupt and questionable behaviour of public officials and they diminish the reputation and international standing of the nations that apply them.
We note that the laws under which Jose Belo has been charged are left over from the old Indonesian regime, and understand that new laws more suited to a democratic society have been drafted but have not been placed before your parliament.
We pledge our support to Jose Belo and all East Timorese journalists who may face imprisonment for the practice of their profession. We urge you to take all actions within your power to bring about the dropping of this charge and the removal of Criminal Defamation laws in East Timor.

Respectfully,

Wendy Bacon, Professor of Journalism, University of Technology, Sydney
Liz Jackson, Reporter, Four Corners, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Chris Nash, Professor of Journalism, Monash University
Sarah Ferguson, Reporter, Four Corners, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Mark Dodd Defence/Foreign Affairs writer The Australian newspaper
Tony Jones, Presenter, Lateline, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Quentin Dempster, Journalist, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Marni Cordell, Editor, New Matilda
Mark Davis, Reporter, Dateline SBS
David O'Shea, Reporter, Dateline, SBS
Matthew Moore, FOI editor, Sydney Morning Herald
Jock Cheetham, Journalist, Sydney Morning Herald
Olivia Rousset , Video journalist
Melissa Morrison, Dateline, SBS
Geoff Holland, Barrister & Law Lecturer,University of Technology, Sydney
Gillian Leahy, Associate Professor, University of Technology, Sydney
Peter Cronau, Journalist, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Tom Zubrycki, Filmaker, Sydney
Ian Gerrard, Editor, The Diplomat