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A David vs. Goliath drug war story in a NY court
Al Giordano said he would put the drug war
on trial, and after a July 20 hearing in a New York City courtroom,
few doubters remain. Razor Wire subscribers may recall reading
in our March/April issue about Giordano being forced to defend
his investigative journalism against a civil lawsuit filed by
Banco de Nacional de Mexico, or Banamex. Giordano's Internet
reports on Central and South American drug trafficking frequently
identified the president of Banamex, Roberto Hernandez Ramirez,
as a millionaire money-launderer and an international drug kingpin,
a friend of U.S. and Mexican presidents. Ramirez and Banamex
filed a defamation lawsuit in August 2000 in an attempt to shut
down publishing of NarcoNews.com and its courageous investigators.
There's much history behind Banamex's suit. At stake are the
rights of independent reporters colliding with the moneyed interests
of major drug traffickers with much to hide. The Mexican coastline
on the Gulf is a traditional drop-off area for cocaine shipments
from Colombia destined for U.S. buyers. Ramirez lives in this
area and has been implicated in drug trafficking by Mario Renata
Menendez Rodriguez, the heroic publisher of Por Esto, one of
Mexico's largest newspapers. After a lengthy criminal libel trial
brought by Banamex lasting more than two years, a Mexican judge
ruled that Por Esto's investigation (republished in Narco News
Bulletin by Giordano) had not libeled Banamex. This decision
was upheld on appeal in Mexico in May of 2000. A third attempt
by Banamex to press criminal charges in Mexico was thrown out
of court. Unrelenting, Banamex hopes to try again in a Manhattan
Supreme Court building with groundless charges against Giordano
and codefendant Mario Renata Menendez Rodriguez.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a leading organization
defending First Amendment rights in the cyber-age, filed an amicus
brief in support of Narco News Bulletin's right to publish. Among
items in the memorandum, it's noted that "the new independent
journalists of the Internet, as personified by Al Giordano, play
a crucial role in preserving the democratic aspirations of First
Amendment protection. The role of such journalists is especially
salient as mainstream media is increasingly in the hands of fewer
and fewer large corporations."
Why hasn't Banamex sued media like El Universal, AP, Wall Street
Journal, the Boston Phoenix or the Village Voice that published
the same facts? They have a weak case, and because Giordano and
Mario Rodriguez are poor, Banamex hopes to win by weight of money
spent. Giordano the giant killer is poised to bring down Goliath
Banamex by virtue of truth alone.
Al said they had a good day in court on July 20 with an intelligent
judge on the bench. She will take several months to rule on the
first round of motions to dismiss. Giordano can now get back
to work reporting on the drug war "from somewhere in America."
He's planning a mid-September mini-tour of Boston, New York and
possibly Washington, DC. He plans to speak at the 15th Annual
Hemp Rally on Boston Common. Al's paradise of anonymity has come
to an end, and there's a profile of him with first photo taken
in four years in the summer Rolling Stone magazine. Wall Street
Journal may come out with his story also.
Donations are needed from anyone who loves to support a good
First Amendment fight. In the Biblical Old Testament, David brought
down Goliath with a single stone. Such truth about the clay feet
of giants may also mean for monster banks such as Banamex that
this fight is about over.
For online information about how you can help or donate in this
important case, see: www.narconews.com
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