Journalist receives death threats

(PFC/IFEX) – Journalist Daniel Cancela, of the programme “Subrayado”, broadcast on the Canal 10 television station, has received death threats over a series of reports on corruption in the country’s corrections system that resulted in the prosecution of three senior functionaries in the department. Aside from Cancela, threats were also issued against Judge Pablo Eguren […]

(PFC/IFEX) – Journalist Daniel Cancela, of the programme “Subrayado”, broadcast on the Canal 10 television station, has received death threats over a series of reports on corruption in the country’s corrections system that resulted in the prosecution of three senior functionaries in the department. Aside from Cancela, threats were also issued against Judge Pablo Eguren who oversaw the proceedings, Luisa Scelza, the intelligence commissioner in charge of the operation, and two prisoners who testified, one of whom was physically assaulted.

In a letter to Interior Minister Guillermo Stirling, PFC expressed concern over the threats and asked that “he identify those responsible for the threats against Cancela and seek exemplary sanctions against them.” PFC also called on the minister to take “the necessary measures to protect Cancela’s well-being.” The Uruguyan Press Association (Asociacion de la Prensa Uruguaya, APU) was scheduled to meet with the minister on 17 October to discuss the Cancela case and ask that “further and irreversible acts of aggression against the right to life and freedom of information not be permitted in the country.”

PFC lamented the fact that such violations of press freedom and citizens’ right to information occur in Uruguay. Such acts, PFC noted, are aimed at inhibiting the publication of reports and investigations of corruption and maintaining impunity for the perpetrators. A study by the State University’s Political Science Institute, published in October 2002, noted that “between 1993 and 2001, 4,963 media articles were related to the theme of corruption”. This points to the attention the media have given to this scourge, something that could diminish if authorities are not capable of stopping the threats and attacks on journalists.

PFC’s letter to the interior minister can be read at:
http://portal-pfc.org/libexp/docs/2002/090.html

Further information on the case can be found at:
http://portal-pfc.org/perseguidos/2002/088.html

Recommended Action

Appeals To

Please copy appeals to the source if possible.