(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 8 March 2004, journalist Mónica Reynoso, of “8.300” newspaper, which is published in Neuquén province, west-central Argentina, filed a complaint with the Provincial Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding a threat made by Oscar Alejandro Gutiérrez, a provincial legislator for the Movimiento Popular Neuquino (MPN) political party. Reynoso said that Gutiérrez called her colleague […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 8 March 2004, journalist Mónica Reynoso, of “8.300” newspaper, which is published in Neuquén province, west-central Argentina, filed a complaint with the Provincial Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding a threat made by Oscar Alejandro Gutiérrez, a provincial legislator for the Movimiento Popular Neuquino (MPN) political party.
Reynoso said that Gutiérrez called her colleague at “8.300”, journalist Carlos Marcel, to complain about an article with her husband Jorge Gadano’s byline. The article was about a mansion that Gutiérrez was constructing at a local resort. During the telephone call, Gutiérrez told Marcel, “I’m going to make Gadano pay” and, using coarse language, said he would retaliate by sexually abusing Reynoso.
The threat made by the legislator did not surprise other Neuquén journalists. During his term as interior minister in 2003, Gutiérrez had also issued threats after video footage implicating Governor Jorge Sobisch, of the MPN, in bribery, was broadcast.
PERIODISTAS has condemned the threats and called on the Neuquén justice system and the provincial legislature to act immediately and investigate and punish Gutiérrez for his actions.
