(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On Monday 25 February 2002, journalist Julio Rodríguez, a correspondent for the daily “Clarín” in Santiago del Estero province, received anonymous death threats in a telephone call to his home. Rodríguez stated that a man who did not identify himself told the journalist’s wife, “Tell your husband to stop screwing around, otherwise his […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On Monday 25 February 2002, journalist Julio Rodríguez, a correspondent for the daily “Clarín” in Santiago del Estero province, received anonymous death threats in a telephone call to his home. Rodríguez stated that a man who did not identify himself told the journalist’s wife, “Tell your husband to stop screwing around, otherwise his son will be killed within fifteen days.”
Rodríguez believes the threat is connected to a journalistic investigation he is carrying out on the Santiago del Estero Bank, owned by Néstor Ick, a powerful businessman linked to the provincial government. The journalist has also been investigating alleged irregularities in the purchase and sale of savings bonds, in which one of the businessman’s sons is implicated.
The journalist reported the threats to the Interior Ministry and the Argentine Federation of Press Workers (Federación Argentina de Trabajadores de Prensa, FATPREN). He also filed a complaint with the Santiago del Estero Federal Court, presided by Judge Ángel Toledo.
Following the launch of the legal action, an official from the National Assistant Secretariat for Security (Subsecretaría de Seguridad de la Nación), headed by Juan José Álvarez, informed Rodríguez that National Police officers would be assigned to keep permanent watch over his house. The journalist lives with his wife and three children, who are nine, six and three years old.
A number of national and international organisations have condemned the repeated freedom of expression violations in Santiago del Estero. The province’s Press Circle (Círculo de la Prensa) reiterated its concern over the 150 attacks committed against the press in the province over the last twelve years. PERIODISTAS recorded twenty-one cases in 2000 alone. The situation in the province has raised the concern of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights’ special rapporteur on freedom of expression and prompted the United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression to visit the region in June 2001(see IFEX alert of 25 June 2001).
Recommended Action
Send letters of support to:
Julio Rodríguez
Círculo de la Prensa de Santiago del Estero
Tel: +0385 422 0469
Send appeals to the governor of Santiago del Estero province:
– urging him to ensure that Rodríguez and his family are protected
– calling for guarantees that the journalist and all other press workers in the province, which has been marked by numerous freedom of expression violations, are able to carry out their profession without fear of attack or reprisals
Appeals To
Carlos Ricardo Díaz
Santiago del Estero Governor
Tel: +0385 424 0449
Fax: +0385 422 1066
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
