(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned a 27 February 2005 attack on Guido Uaut, a correspondent for the regional daily « El Liberal », while he was covering gubernatorial elections in the northern province of Santiago del Estero. « There is no justification for violence against a journalist who is simply doing his job, » RSF said. « We call for […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned a 27 February 2005 attack on Guido Uaut, a correspondent for the regional daily « El Liberal », while he was covering gubernatorial elections in the northern province of Santiago del Estero.
« There is no justification for violence against a journalist who is simply doing his job, » RSF said. « We call for an investigation into this incident and for the punishment of those responsible. »
Uaut, the « El Liberal » correspondent in Termas, 75 km from the provincial capital, Santiago del Estero city, was attacked when he went to cover the elections at a school that was being used as a polling station.
« Our correspondent was notified of incidents taking place between militants from opposing parties inside the polling station, » the daily’s correspondent coordinator, Marcelo Alfaro, told RSF. « He went there and took photos. One of the militants saw him and alerted other people, who ran after him, roughed him up and snatched his camera, » Alfaro said.
According to the newspaper, around 20 people were involved, all members of the Peronist party, which holds power both nationally and in Santiago del Estero province.
Uaut filed a complaint at the Termas police station, while « El Liberal » management contacted provincial government authorities to demand the return of their correspondent’s camera. Uaut’s camera was returned to him on 1 March.
