(RSF/IFEX) – RSF condemns the detention of journalists Néstor Pasquín and Hugo Francischelli in Corral de Bustos, a town in Córdoba province in Argentina’s north-central region. Both were detained for alleged instigation of violence, arson and minor injuries, for which they may face from 3 to 15 years’ imprisonment. RSF is concerned because the journalists’ […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF condemns the detention of journalists Néstor Pasquín and Hugo Francischelli in Corral de Bustos, a town in Córdoba province in Argentina’s north-central region. Both were detained for alleged instigation of violence, arson and minor injuries, for which they may face from 3 to 15 years’ imprisonment.
RSF is concerned because the journalists’ detention appears to be a case of judicial abuse. It is regrettable that – in this case involving the death of a young girl and other serious incidents – the authorities have chosen to treat journalists covering the story as scapegoats. RSF calls for the journalists’ release.
Pasquín and Francischelli were taken into custody on 20 December 2006, although the events in which they were allegedly involved took place at the beginning of the month. On the morning of 4 December, inhabitants of Corral de Bustos, enraged over the rape and murder of a young girl, caused disturbances that resulted in the destruction of property around the local law courts, including the burning of a judge’s car. Local legal authorities have accused the mother of the murdered girl of involvement in her murder. Two men are also charged with homicide and aggravated sexual assault in the case.
Following investigation into the public disturbances of 4 December by Public Prosecutor Carlos Ernesto Viramonte, 10 arrest warrants were issued. Among those named for arrest were Pasquín and Francischelli, who were present at the scene to cover the events unfolding. Sixteen days after the incidents, the two journalists and six others were detained. Two additional individuals also accused of responsibility are still being sought.
Pasquín owns the local radio station FM Show and is a correspondent of the station FM Panorama. Francischelli hosts a radio programme on FM 97.3.
“They use journalists as scapegoats. They want to frighten the press in order to shut us up. Néstor [Pasquín] has already reported on the miscarriage of justice in Córdoba”, Fernando Cabrera, producer of the programme En Contacto, which is organising a campaign for Pasquín’s release, told RSF.
Cabrera insists that “it is no coincidence that the detentions happened just before the holidays. He is still confined, incommunicado, and no doubt he will spend the end of the year in prison.”
According to legal sources, the two journalists are accused of having incited some 1000 individuals to demonstrate violently in front of the law courts. Cabrera notes that “Pasquín was working, so it was only logical that he would be in the middle of the revolt.”
The prosecutor has decided to transfer the journalists and six other detainees to the police station in Marcos Juárez to avoid any possibility of reprisals by local residents.
