(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 23 November 2002, supporters of the Río Negro province governor, Pablo Verani, assaulted several journalists who were reporting on the governor’s visit to the General Roca region. The reporters had witnessed the governor’s supporters attack members of the Corriente Clasista y Combativa, an organisation that represents unemployed workers, that had gone to […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 23 November 2002, supporters of the Río Negro province governor, Pablo Verani, assaulted several journalists who were reporting on the governor’s visit to the General Roca region. The reporters had witnessed the governor’s supporters attack members of the Corriente Clasista y Combativa, an organisation that represents unemployed workers, that had gone to the meeting to set up a charity collection box.
The assailants were led by the General Roca Public Services director, Luis Salvucci. Some of the individuals grabbed José Luis Pierroni, a photojournalist for the daily “Río Negro”, and tried to wrestle his equipment away from him. They also intercepted photographer Gustavo Reguera and columnist Luis Leiva, of the daily “La Mañana del Sur”, and tried to prevent them from taking any more photographs. Police officers who were present failed to respond and subsequently stated that they could not divert their attention from guarding the governor.
The affected journalists later approached Governor Verani and asked him what the government was planning to do about the attack on the press, to which he responded, “Fine, file a complaint.”
In a press release, PERIODISTAS condemned “the complicity of the authorities, who have revealed their true colours, tending towards violence and intolerance.”
