(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned about the humiliating treatment to which journalists have been subjected by certain Entre Ríos provincial authorities, and is calling called upon Governor Jorge Busti to behave in a more exemplary manner and calm the situation. “Entre Ríos’s provincial government has to allow the press to perform its role as a […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is concerned about the humiliating treatment to which journalists have been subjected by certain Entre Ríos provincial authorities, and is calling called upon Governor Jorge Busti to behave in a more exemplary manner and calm the situation.
“Entre Ríos’s provincial government has to allow the press to perform its role as a counter-weight to power. We condemn the threats, intimidation and abuses of power committed by the authorities, including the governor himself, against journalists Daniel Enz, Tirso Fiorotto and Oscar Londero. We hope that the call for press freedom made by Congress member Juan Carlos Lucio Godoy will be heard,” said RSF.
On 25 November 2005, in the provincial capital, Paraná, Enz, director of “Análisis” weekly newspaper, was threatened in person by provincial police chief Ernesto Geuna. Geuna rushed over to the journalist on the street, and after verifying that there were no witnesses, shook him by the arm, saying “don’t aggravate me any more, because if you don’t stop, I’m going to lose my patience and cause you trouble. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.” Enz had published an investigation in “Analysis” about mismanagement in the police force. He filed a complaint against Geuna, who then resigned.
The same week, Governor Busti described Fiorotto, a “La Nacion” national newspaper correspondent, as his government’s “public enemy number one”, due to several articles criticising his administration.
In early November, Londero, a “Clarín” national newspaper correspondent, filed a formal legal request for an explanation by the provincial government regarding the use of public funds left over from the government publicity allocation. Media outlets and agencies had been negatively affected by the manner in which the funds had been used in 2005. The journalist, who tried to obtain information at the Public Information head office (Dirección General de Información Pública, DGIP), was dismissed without being provided with it on the grounds that it was “confidential information.”
Additionally, on 10 October, Leandro López, an “El Sol” local newspaper reporter was violently beaten at a police station when he attempted to obtain information about a traffic accident.
These incidents have provoked Congress member Juan Carlos Lucio Godoy’s indignation; he presented a bill defending press freedom to Congress on 29 November.
