THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION WEDNESDAY DECIDED TO CONSIDER SUING THE WASHINGTON POST FOR LIBEL FOR REPORTING THE PRESS WATCHDOG BODY RECEIVED $50,000 FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00806R000200920005-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: March 23, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP90-00806R000200920005-3
STAT
UNITED PPESS TNTERNATICNAL
23 LARCH 1983 F
By PTFTFR VAN BENNEKCM
MANZANILLC, Mexico
The Inter-American Press Association Wednesday decided to consider suing the
Washington Post for libel for reporting the press watchdog body received $50,000
from the U.S. government.
The IAPA board decided to first demand a full apology from the Post, which
published the information in a sydicated column March 3, and to amend its
charter to tighten up regulations against receiving money from governments.
John McMullen of the Miami Herald volunteered the services of his newspaper's
counsel to study whether the Post publication was actionable and whether
monetary damages could be recovered, a proposal that was accepted.
'Damage. has been done and it can be proven, '' McMullen said, referring to
the tarnished image of the IAPA in the rest of the hemisphere because of the
erroneous column.
''If the Post treated this matter so cavalierly, we ought to make them pay
for it,'' McMullen said.
The Post column was based on an internal report of the U.S. Information
Service leaked to a congressional committee which recommended a sc-called
"Project Democracy'' to strengthen democratic organizations in the Americas
with U.S. money.
Both the USIS and the IAPA say the internal report wa, not official and none
of the $50,0000 was paid or received.
David Kraslow, of the Miami.News, the IAPA's vice president for the United
States, presented a report on the incident.
Kraslow also said it appears from the leaked report that the Central
Intelligence Agency was also involved in the discussions on ' 'Project
Democracy, $ and that because of the CIA connection, "We are just beginning
to scratch the surface as to the amount of damage that has been done.
The resolution of the board of directors adopted Wednesday charged the IAPA's
executive committee with drawing up a proposal for an amendment to the IAPA
charter to tighten up regulations against receiving money from any government.
The charter amendment will be discussed at an October IAPA meeting in Lima,
Peru.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/16: CIA-RDP90-00806R000200920005-3