(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On the night of 12 February 2003, journalist Clara Britos was cornered near her home by three unidentified individuals who threatened to kill her. Britos, owner and director of the monthly newspaper “La Tapa”, in Guernica, Buenos Aires province, told PERIODISTAS that she has been threatened a number of times. On three occasions, […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On the night of 12 February 2003, journalist Clara Britos was cornered near her home by three unidentified individuals who threatened to kill her.
Britos, owner and director of the monthly newspaper “La Tapa”, in Guernica, Buenos Aires province, told PERIODISTAS that she has been threatened a number of times. On three occasions, upon leaving her house, she was followed and threatened with death by the driver of a Ford vehicle.
Britos published information on a 29 May 2002 demonstration that was violently repressed by police and at which three teachers were beaten. “La Tapa” also reported that Oscar Rodríguez, current vice-minister of the state intelligence service and former member of parliament for the Peronist party, was allegedly involved in irregularities.
In July, Britos was threatened again during an event in Avellaneda marking the one-month anniversary of the killing of Maximiliano Kosteki and Darío Santillán. The two were killed by police during a demonstration by members of the organised unemployed movement (piqueteros).
Inspector Alfredo Fanchiotti, who headed the police operation that day and is considered mainly responsible for the killings, led a search of Britos’ home on 1 January 2000 on the pretext that police were searching for two murderers. On that occasion, the journalist and her family were insulted and forced to lie on the floor for four hours.
Recommended Action
Send letters of support to:
Clara Britos
“La Tapa”
Tel: +54 22 2447 7927
E-mail: clarabritos@hackemate.com.ar
Internet: www.dlatapa.unlugar.com
Send appeals to Governor Agrimensor Felipe Solá:
– asking him to provide protection for Britos
Appeals To
Agrimensor Felipe Solá
Governor of Buenos Aires Province
Casa de Gobierno de la Provincia de Buenos Aires
Tel/fax: +54 11 4713 3415
Internet: http://www.gba.gov.ar
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
