wfn.org | NCCCUSA Head Appeals for Justice Following Journalist's Assassination

[CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
Contact: Wendy McDowell, NCC, 212-870-2227
Internet: c/o carolf@ncccusa.org

NCC2/7/97                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NCC GENERAL SECRETARY ENCOURAGES PRESIDENT OF 
ARGENTINA TO PRESS FOR JUSTICE OVER KILLING OF 
JOURNALIST

 NEW YORK, Feb. 7 ---- Following is the text of 
a letter dated Feb. 6, 1997, from National Council 
of Churches (NCC) General Secretary the Rev. Dr. 
Joan Brown Campbell to the Honorable Carlos S. 
Menem, President of the Republic of Argentina.  Dr. 
Campbell asks Mr. Menem to make "all possible 
efforts to clarify the motives and identify those 
responsible" for the assassination of journalist 
Luis Cabezas.  Mr. Cabezas was investigating 
corruption among the police force and post office 
staff when he was killed.

Dear Mr. President:

 International public opinion is deeply 
concerned over the brutal assassination of the 
journalist Luis Cabezas in the early hours of 
January 26, not only for its significance to freedom 
of the press, but also because this action appears 
to openly challenge democracy in your country.

 Mr. President, your words condemning this act 
encourage us and we hope that all possible efforts 
will be carried out to clarify the motives and 
identify those responsible for this act.  It is our 
hope that this crime is not in vain and moves your 
government and all sectors in your country to seek 
ways of bringing to an end all forms of intolerance 
that we thought had been overcome in Argentina.  Mr. 
President, we feel that it is vital that you take 
the necessary measures to ensure tranquility to 
those who work in the mass media, to enable these 
persons to carry out their work free of interference 
and free of fear to express their opinions.

 Receive our respectful greetings,

The Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell
General Secretary

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