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Alert

Two newspaper journalists dismissed for refusing to name source

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF condemns the political pressure that apparently led to the dismissal of reporter Rafael Antonio Ruiz and deputy editor César Iván Castillo of the daily "El Siglo". The two were fired on 14 November 2005 over a report in that day's issue, alleging that a presidential bodyguard was implicated in a drug trafficking case.

"We are deeply shocked by this decision which flouts the laws of investigation, reveals the pressure that weighs on the press and encourages self-censorship," the organisation said. "We hope Ruiz and Castillo will be allowed to rejoin the newspaper and that the authorities will take the necessary measures to guarantee the independence of the press."

Ruiz's article referred to the former head of the police anti-narcotics department, Rogelio Harris, who was arrested on suspicion of corruption and drug-trafficking following his dismissal on 3 October.

The report alleged that Juan de León, a member of President Martín Torrijos's personal security staff, was likely also involved in the case. Ruiz quoted a source as saying that Harris used public funds and his intelligence contacts to appropriate drugs from traffickers.

The day the story appeared, one of the newspaper's main shareholders, Abdul Waked, ordered Ruiz to name his source. When he refused, he and Castillo were dismissed.

The president's office has denied that political pressure had anything to do with their dismissal.