(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned by the continued threats against Clara Britos, owner and editor of the monthly newspaper “La Tapa”. The threats appear to be linked to Britos’ reporting on alleged corruption in the Guernica local government. In the most recent incident, on 5 October 2003, Britos was forced […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned by the continued threats against Clara Britos, owner and editor of the monthly newspaper “La Tapa”. The threats appear to be linked to Britos’ reporting on alleged corruption in the Guernica local government.
In the most recent incident, on 5 October 2003, Britos was forced into a car by a man who pointed what the journalist assumed to be a gun at her back. She was taken away in the car with two other men, and warned, “In Guernica, Oscar Rodríguez [the ex-mayor of Pte. Perón, in the province of Buenos Aires] gives the orders and everyone does whatever Rodríguez says . . . when are you going to understand that, bitch?” (“En Guernica manda Rodríguez y se hace lo que el Señor Oscar Rodríguez dice . . . ¿cuándo lo van a entender, hija de puta?”). She was released soon after with the words, “Get out, but next time you won’t be returning home” (“Bájate, pero la próxima vez no volvés a casa”).
Britos has been the subject of a concerted campaign of threats and harassment which began in 2002. In 2003, the intimidation has intensified. In February 2003, three unidentified individuals reportedly approached her in the street and threatened to kill her. On 27 March, stones were thrown at her house and the next day, in four telephone calls, she was repeatedly told, “We’re going to kill you, bitch . . . watch out” (“Te vamos a matar, hija de puta . . . cuídate”). Two days earlier, Britos had covered a demonstration outside the house of President Duhalde in which demonstrators were protesting the lack of action against police officers who were allegedly involved in the murder of two “piqueteros” (protesting unemployed workers). On 30 March, the journalist was threatened twice more in telephone calls.
In addition, Britos reportedly received four telephone calls on 2 April and another four on 4 April in which she was told, “We are going to kill your children first” (“Los vamos a matar, primeros a tus hijos”). On 28 June, Britos says she received two more telephone calls during which the caller threatened to kill her son. To date, apart from the permanent police protection now provided to her, there has been no action taken by the authorities against those responsible for the threats.
