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Alert

Radio editor faces possible suspension over live debate about the Pope

(RSF/IFEX) - Management of the state-run Polskie Radio have announced their decision to suspend editor Pawel Sito after he staged a live radio debate in which some young listeners criticised the late Pope John Paul II. The journalist's dismissal is still being discussed within the broadcast company.

Sito, editor of Radio BIS, was suspended on 12 May 2005 as a result of a two-hour debate broadcast on 9 April, one week after the Pope's death, from a Warsaw political debating club called "Madame", frequented by militant feminists, homosexuals and artists.

Young Catholics and atheists took part in the debate entitled, "New Unification", in an atmosphere that was "very respectful towards the Pope," Sito said, while adding that he believed the debate was a "democratic necessity." During the debate, some speakers stressed that John Paul II was not the highest authority as far as they were concerned.

RSF pointed out that Sito's suspension was likely to strengthen self-censorship in Poland. "Free expression in Poland, which has been part of the European Union since March 2004, should respond to European legal standards. There should not be an exception for subjects considered sensitive, such as the late Pope John Paul II," the organisation said.

The manager of "Madame", Krystian Legierski, said the debate had presented the first genuine opportunity to talk freely about the Pope, since there had been "massive media conformity" surrounding the dying Pope.

Sito organised a series of programmes entitled, "The Energy of Young People for the Pope", which allowed listeners to speak openly about their emotions on the death of John Paul II.

The leftist national daily "Trybuna" said that the candour expressed on the radio station may have displeased management, but had led to a tripling of listening figures during the month. These same figures were quoted by the centre-right "Gazeta Wyborcza", Poland's largest daily.