By Teresa trances and Hanlon ATTEMPTS to crack down on the press and on abortion in failed last week. Journalist Palla acquitted charges arising out of a TV film on abortion.
Abortion is illegal in Portugal. But there least abortions a year, killing at least 2000 women.
In August 1974, Palla and several other journalists and began a TV series 'Name: Woman' to look at women's problems and the gains they were making in the new The final programme in the series, in February 1976, was entitled 'Abortion is not a crime'.
Women were shown why they had been forced to have abortions, although they were kept in semi-darkness so they could not be identified.
And the film showed an abortion Delg themselves in a popular clinic, by the Karman suction method ordinary bicycle pump.
Perhaps most important, it gave a Joseph abortion should be done.
Portugal The Church Maria parties were outraged of action was taken.
180,000 crime.
filmmakers an attempt to press won after 1974.
ironically explaining rights.
and many Party did prominen an by clear explanation of how the abortion was to be done, so that any woman watching would know how a good and the right-wing and Palla was interviewed by the police. But no Suddenly, three months ago and three years after the TV programme, Palla was charged with an assault on public morality' and 'incitement to The trial was widely interpreted as curb freedoms that both women and the Palla alone was charged, and not the other makers of the film. This was probably because she is vice-president of the union of journalists and has been an outspoken proponent both of treedom of the press and women's But the attack drew surprisingly little public support from the right, came to Pala's detence Fortexample, although the Socialist not publicly defend her, Socialist deputies [MPs] gave evidence on her behalf.
Palla was particularly encouraged and telegrams that
Bevan, left leader of the '50's, talking to Wilson. Scargill's choice for today is Benn.