Last week the Guardian (U.K.) carried a story  which suggested that the family of Danny Pearl was upset at Vice—President Cheney's reference to the slain Wall Street Journal reporter.

The family of the murdered journalist Daniel Peral has appealed to American politicians not to use his name in their election campaigns.

The family issued the appeal after vice—president Dick Cheney mentioned Pearl in a campaign speech that criticised Democratic presidential contender John Kerry.

They want to avoid the journalist's killing in January 2002 at the hands of Islamist militants being used as a political pawn over the war in Iraq ahead of the US elections. 

Pearl, the Wall Street Journal's south Asia correspondent, was kidnapped while investigating links between Pakistani militants and the suspected shoe bomber, Richard Reid.

His dismembered body was found four months later in a shallow grave in Karachi.

Mr Cheney mentioned both Pearl and Paul M Johnson Jr, an American citizen beheaded by militants in Saudi Arabia in June, in a speech aimed at discrediting rival presidential candidate Mr Kerry views on the "war on terror".

"A sensitive war will not destroy the evil men who killed 3,000 Americans. The men who beheaded Daniel Pearl and Paul Johnson will not be impressed by our sensitivity," said Mr Cheney. 

The vice—president referred to the pair as he blasted Mr Kerry's calls for a "more sensitive" war on terror.

In a statement, Pearl's family said: "We would like him to be remembered for what he was in his life, a passionate American and humanist who rose above political, religious and cultural divisions, and used his pen and fiddle to connect people of all backgrounds."

Although the statement did not mention Mr Cheney's speech, Jonathan Heit, a spokesman for the Daniel Peral Foundation, a non—partisan organisation that promotes cross—cultural understanding, told the Associated Press news wire service the speech was the catalyst for the family issuing a statement

I found nothing partisan in the Vice—President's speech, contrary to the suggestion in the story and wrote the foundation for an explanation.

I received this response from Dr. Judea Pearl, Daniel's father:

we erred in allowing the media to exploit this case and create an impression that is contrary to our position.

We tried to keep the name of Danny out of partisan politics, but it turned against us, and now we are
perceived as partisan, even anti—Cheney, when in fact Cheney's remark was so true: These killers will not
be impressed by any "sensitivity" , no matter how one interprets this word.

Dealing with the media is a tricky matter. We wanted the name of Danny to stay out of the election campaign, where people constantly blame and ridicule each other, and keep it as accommodating and all—embracing as he was in his life. But we erred —— it actually became more part of the dirty campaign.

Thanks for pointing this to us in a caring and uderstanding manner.

His memory belongs to us all.

Posted by Clarice Feldman  8 23 04