(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 1 August 2002, journalist Marcelo Fraga, of Jangdeiro Television in the state of Ceará, was assaulted in the Legislative Assembly by Parliamentary Chief of Communications Luciano Luque. Fraga was interviewing Assembly Speaker and Member of Parliament Welington Landim. Landim is also a gubernatorial candidate for the Socialist Party of Brazil (PSB). Fraga […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 1 August 2002, journalist Marcelo Fraga, of Jangdeiro Television in the state of Ceará, was assaulted in the Legislative Assembly by Parliamentary Chief of Communications Luciano Luque. Fraga was interviewing Assembly Speaker and Member of Parliament Welington Landim. Landim is also a gubernatorial candidate for the Socialist Party of Brazil (PSB).
Fraga had gone to cover the opening of the second sitting of the legislative assembly. Luque, an aid to Landim, attempted to take Fraga’s microphone away from him and tapped the lens of the camera with his hands several times to disrupt Fraga’s report. Fraga told the daily “O Povo” that when he asked Landim about the party’s poor performance in various Brazilian states he did not answer, after which Luque proceeded to hit him in the stomach. Landim walked out of the Assembly when Fraga began to yell that he had been hit. Paradoxically, Fraga was forcibly removed by security. “This is the assembly that claims to be for the people, and they are preventing me from doing my job,” Fraga said.
Luque denies having hit Fraga and accuses him of wanting to “obstruct the activities of Parliament” and of “favouring Landim’s political rivals.”
That same afternoon, Fraga filed a police report on the incident, alleging assault and defamation, and went for a medical exam at the Legal Medical Institute (IML). Both of these actions will likely lead to a civil lawsuit for personal damages and a criminal lawsuit for personal injury. As speaker of the Assembly, Landim announced that an internal investigation would be established, that he would remain at arm’s length from the investigation, and that Luque would be removed from his duties during the investigation.
The National Association of Journalists (ANJ) expressed their concern regarding the incident and described it as “an act of violence and a clear sign of disrespect for the work of the press.” The ANJ also called for “an investigation into the events” so that such “acts will not be repeated in the future.”
Recommended Action
Send letters of solidarity to:Marcelo Fraga
Jangadeiro Television
Av.Antônio Sales, 2811 Dionísio Torres
Fortaleza, Ceará Brasil
Tel: +55 85 466 2000
Fax:+55 85 261 2822
E-mail:jang@tvjangadeiro.com.br
http://www.tvjangadeiro.com.brSend letters calling for an investigation to:
Welington Landim, Member of Parliament
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Ceará
E-mail: info@al.ce.gov.br, suporte@al.ce.gov.brPlease copy appeals to the source if possible.
