DATE=8/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237229
TITLE=TIMES NOTE(L-ONLY)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=MIAMI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE NEW YORK TIMES NEWSPAPER ISSUED AN 'EDITOR'S NOTE'
SUNDAY TO CLARIFY A STORY PUBLISHED LAST MONTH. A RECENT ARTICLE
IN THE TIMES REPORTED THAT PROMINENT CUBAN EXILES LEADERS IN
MIAMI SUPPORTED A SERIES OF HOTEL BOMBINGS IN CUBA. BUT AS SCOTT
ANGER REPORTS, THE PAPER SAYS WORDING OF THE ARTICLE WAS NOT
INTENDED TO MEAN LEADERS SPECIFICALLY PAID FOR THE ACTS.
TEXT: THE NEW YORK TIMES SAYS BECAUSE OF AN EDITING ERROR, IT
REPORTED THAT CUBAN EXILE LUIS POSADA CARRILES HAD CLAIMED
LEADERS OF A PROMINENT EXILE GROUP IN MIAMI DIRECTLY SUPPORTED A
SERIES OF HOTEL BOMBINGS IN HAVANA LAST SUMMER.
BUT THE PAPER SAYS THE WORD 'SUPPORTED', WAS NOT INTENDED TO MEAN
THAT MR. POSADA HAD SAID THAT THE CUBAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL
FOUNDATION LEADERS PAID SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BOMBINGS.
NANCY NIELSEN, A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE TIMES SAYS THE PAPER WANTED
TO MAKE CLEAR ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
///NIELSEN ACT///
THE EDITOR'S NOTE THAT RAN IN NEW YORK TIMES ON SUNDAY,
AUGUST 16, 1998 IS NOT A RETRACTION. THE POINT OF THE
EDITOR'S NOTE WAS TO CLARIFY A WORD THAT RAN IN THE
FIRST STORY. THE WORD WAS NOT INCORRECT BUT IT COULD
HAVE BEEN MISLEADING AND, IN FACT, SOME PEOPLE DID
MISUNDERSTAND IT.
///END ACT///
DURING TAPE-RECORDED INTERVIEWS WITH TIMES, MR. POSADA
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE ORGANIZED THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN AND OTHER
ANTI-CASTRO OPERATIONS. HE SAID THE LATE LEADER OF THE
FOUNDATION, JORGE MAS CANOSA WAS HIS MAIN FINANCIAL SUPPORTER.
BUT IN INTERVIEWS AFTER THE TIMES PUBLISHED ITS ARTICLES, MR.
POSADA CLAIMED HE LIED TO THE PAPER TO HIDE THE REAL SOURCE OF
HIS FINANCES.
AFTER THE STORIES WERE PUBLISHED, THE CUBAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL
FOUNDATION DENIED FUNDING ANY TERRORIST ACTIVITIES AND DEMANDED A
FULL RETRACTION OF THE ARTICLES.
DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE MONDAY AT THE FOUNDATION'S
HEADQUARTERS, JORGE MAS JR. SAYS THE CENTRAL PREMISE OF THE
NEWSPAPER'S STORIES NO LONGER HOLDS ANY CREDIBILITY.
///MAS JR. ACT///
THE NEW YORK TIMES PRINTED INFORMATION THAT WAS FALSE
AND THEY KNOWINGLY DID SO AS WE STATED HERE A MONTH AGO.
THEY KNEW MR. POSADA CARRILES, ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS,
STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATIONS BETWEEN JORGE MAS
CANOSA AND THE CUBAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION AND
HIMSELF. SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A RETRACTION FROM
THE NEW YORK TIMES.
///END ACT///
ALTHOUGH THE FOUNDATION SEES THIS AS A RETRACTION, THEY ARE STILL
CONSIDERING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE TIMES. FOUNDATION LEADERS
SAY AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION WILL DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THEY
FILE A LAWSUIT OVER THE ARTICLES. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/WDC/PT
17-Aug-98 7:26 PM EDT (2326 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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