Correspondent Francho Barón was attacked and threatened in a shanty town several days after violent attacks by drug traffickers on police.
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 20 October 2009, Francho Barón, a correspondent for the Spanish daily “El País”, was attacked and threatened in the shanty town of Morro dos Macacos, in Rio de Janeiro. The incident took place following violent attacks by drug traffickers on police on 17 October.
In an article in “El País” ( www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Periodista/deja/temblar/quisieramos/estarias/muerto/elpepiint/20091023elpepiint_8/Tes ), the journalist said he was talking to residents of Morro dos Macacos when a number of men carrying pistols and rifles approached and asked him what he was doing in the shanty town. They told him, “If you are one of those journalists who write about us . . . you better get ready.” They also said, “Journalist, stop shaking, if we wanted you dead you already would be.”
After taking his notebook, mobile phone and video recorder, the men hit him on the head and made him leave the area.
