(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 19 November 2003, José Vales, a correspondent for the Mexican daily “El Universal” in Argentina, informed PERIODISTAS that he has been harassed since publicising the results of his investigation into former Argentine military personnel who committed human rights violations under the dictatorship. Vales, who lives in the city of Buenos Aires, recently […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 19 November 2003, José Vales, a correspondent for the Mexican daily “El Universal” in Argentina, informed PERIODISTAS that he has been harassed since publicising the results of his investigation into former Argentine military personnel who committed human rights violations under the dictatorship.
Vales, who lives in the city of Buenos Aires, recently completed a book about former Argentine naval officer Ricardo Cavallo, alias “Sérpico”, who is in detention in Mexico on charges of torture and genocide for his involvement with the Navy Mechanics School (Escuela de Mecánica de la Armada, ESMA), one of the clandestine centres used by the military to detain, torture and assassinate the regime’s opponents. In the course of the investigation, Vales also discovered the real identity of another former human rights violator, who until now had been identified by a different name by individuals who were detained during the repression.
After the disclosure of this information in “El Universal” in August, the journalist began to receive anonymous telephone calls, which at the time he did not take seriously. Later, however, his mother, who lives approximately 400 kilometres from Buenos Aires in the city of Mar del Plata, also began to receive calls. On 18 November, an individual called asking for her son’s address. Vales’ mother immediately launched a complaint with the police.
In a joint press release, PERIODISTAS, the Association of Foreign Journalists in Argentina (ACE) and the Argentine Press Workers Federation said, “This type of practice harkens back to the dark years of repression.” The organisations condemned the journalist’s harassment and expressed their willingness to assist the authorities and Vales to ensure his security and that of his family.
