The Inter American Press Association expressed its concern over death threats received by an Argentine journalist which, in the organisation’s opinion, amount to a flagrant attempt to silence her. Journalist Viviana Gorbato, the author of a number of books including: “Montoneros, soldados de Menem, soldados de Duhalde”, was recently warned in a telephone call that […]
The Inter American Press Association expressed its concern over death threats received by an Argentine journalist which, in the organisation’s opinion, amount to a flagrant attempt to silence her.
Journalist Viviana Gorbato, the author of a number of books including: “Montoneros, soldados de Menem, soldados de Duhalde”, was recently warned in a telephone call that from that moment on “her days were numbered.”
The president of IAPA’s Press and Information Freedom Committee, Rafael Molina, said that the threats are clearly intented to frighten the journalist so that she will stop speaking out.
“This is a direct attack against press freedom because it is trying to induce self-censorship or, in the worst case, impose censorship by death. In either case, the act should be condemned and I exhort the authorities to remain alert,” said Molina, director of the Listin Diario newspaper, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Molina noted that Argentina is a signatory to the Chapultepec Declaration, which condemns all actions aimed at hindering or impeding journalists’ work.
The head of the Press and Information Freedom Committee cited an excerpt from the document which stipulates that “…pressure, intimidation, unjust imprisonment of journalists, physical destruction of media facilities, violence of any type and impunity enjoyed by attackers, all severely restrict freedom of expression and press freedom. These acts should be promptly investigated and severely punished”.
