(IPYS/IFEX) – On 13 September 2006, a group of journalists was assaulted by unidentified persons when they attempted to approach General Gregorio Álvarez, de facto president of Uruguay in the seventies and eighties during the military dictatorship. The incident took place following a ceremony honouring a retired army colonel, in the premises of the Military […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 13 September 2006, a group of journalists was assaulted by unidentified persons when they attempted to approach General Gregorio Álvarez, de facto president of Uruguay in the seventies and eighties during the military dictatorship. The incident took place following a ceremony honouring a retired army colonel, in the premises of the Military Club in Montevideo.
On Álvarez’s arrival, the reporters started to question him about possible accusations against him for human rights violations that occurred when he headed the military government. The general, however, did not answer and proceeded to go into the club. At the end of the ceremony, the journalists once more attempted to approach Álvarez, but the persons who were with him started to hit the reporters. The assailants wore civilian clothing but it is believed that some were military personnel.
The journalists assaulted were Pablo Meléndrez of “La República” newspaper, Leonardo Pérez of Radio CX 26 Sodre radio station; María José Pino of VTV television station; and Soledad Acuña of Radio Sarandí radio station.
