by Rod Hughes

The Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber yesterday struck a blow for press freedom when the judges ruled that a reporter may not be forced to reveal the sources of his information. Under certain conditions, he still may be ordered by the court to turn over documents but not forced to reveal the source.

Costa Rica has been the target of human rights orgnizations due to its antiquated (model 1902) press law which, among other dangerous assaults on freedom of speech, allows incarceration of journalists and contains a draconian article that makes it illegal to “impune the honor” of a public figure. Thus the court edged closer to the guarantees of most other Western nation. Indeed, not even the United States has the protection of sources in its jurisprudence.

A reformed press law has been languishing in the Legislative Assembly since the last administration and, like many needed bills, has all but been forgotten. But this week’s decision makes even the reporter’s notes inviolate. The 6-1 decision came in response to a writ of habeas data filed by lawyers for ex-President Miguel Angel Rodríguez who wanted to examine documents used by the daily La Nación to develop its exposé of the ICE-Alcatel scandal. Rodríguez faces corruption charges in that case.