Venezuela
Paper fined for piece about Chavez's daughterPosted Feb 25 2007
Humor writer Laureano Marquez and publisher Mosca Analfabeta of the opposition daily Tal Cual newspaper in Caracas have been fined $18,600, according to the Associated Press on Feb. 14. They were fined for “violating the honor, reputation and private life” of President Hugo Chavez's 9-year-old daughter, Rosines. Reporters Without Borders has condemned the fine, which was imposed by a juvenile court west of Caracas, a “political punishment.” Marquez first published remarks regarding how the president's youngest daughter should get her father to be more tolerant of the opposition in a comic open letter on November 25, 2005. Chavez's response against the humor piece is questionable according to an editorial written by Analfabeta. The fine must be paid in eight business days. According to Reporters Without Borders, a Tal Cual editor said the newspaper could not pay the fine but had asked for contributions.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=21026
http://www.cpj.org/news/2007/americas/ven15feb07na.html