(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On Friday 19 October 2001, Hugo Viano, a journalist for Radio San Javier, broadcast out of Misiones province, was stabbed by an unknown individual and as a result suffered a cut of more than ten centimetres. During the last few weeks, the journalist had been investigating child trafficking in the area, encompassing the […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On Friday 19 October 2001, Hugo Viano, a journalist for Radio San Javier, broadcast out of Misiones province, was stabbed by an unknown individual and as a result suffered a cut of more than ten centimetres. During the last few weeks, the journalist had been investigating child trafficking in the area, encompassing the municipalities of San Javier and Leandro N. Alem.
Viano told PERIODISTAS that at 6:40 a.m. (local time) he was about to enter the radio station’s offices when he heard someone call his name. “When I turned around, a young man of between 24 and 27 years old extended his arm towards my abdomen. He told me that this was the final warning and then fled on foot. I was so scared that it was only after I went in and called the police that I realized I had been hurt,” the journalist stated.
Viano is host of the programme Mision Informativa and a member of the Network for the Prevention of Family Violence (Red de Prevencion de la Violencia Familiar). Since the 34-year-old journalist began reporting on child trafficking at the beginning of October, he started to receive death threats against himself and his wife and two young children. About ten individuals are currently under arrest for child trafficking in the region, among them a former employee of the San Javier registry office and a doctor working at the L. N. Alem public hospital.
The journalist lodged a complaint with the L. N. Alem Fifth Court, presided by Judge Selva Raquel Zuetta, denouncing the threats against him and asking for police protection. Nevertheless, his request has not been addressed and one week after the incident protection has still not been provided for Viano and his family.
The court’s employees informed PERIODISTAS that they had not decided to provide the journalist and his family with protection. In their opinion, San Javier is “a small town, where everyone knows each other,” and “for now they have ordered the local police to keep an eye out around Viano’s home and the radio station.”
PERIODISTAS expressed its support for Viano and urged the authorities to ensure that light is shed on the crime and the journalist and his family will be protected. “The launching of a number of legal actions in connection with child trafficking in Misiones once again highlights the importance of journalistic investigations and their impact on civil society,” the organisation noted.
Recommended Action
Send letters of support to Viano:
Hugo Viano
Radio LT 45 Radio San Javier
Tel: +54 037 54 482 601
Send appeals to the L.N. Alem Fifth Court, presided by Judge Selva Raquel Zuetta:
– calling for an investigation into the attack and for protection for Viano and his family
– noting that the journalist has expressed a lot of fear, particularly for the safety of his two young children
Appeals To
Juzgado de Instruccion N° 5 de L. N. Alem
(presided by Judge Selva Raquel Zuetta)
Tel: +54 037 54 420 582
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
