Argentina

(Periodistas/IFEX) – The IV court of the National Appeals Chamber in Criminal and Correctional matters gave journalist Eduardo Kimel a one year prison sentence and fined him US$20,000 as a result of statements contained in his book “La Masacre de San Patricio” (the San Patricio massacre). The book tells the story of the assassination of […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The following is a 22 January 1999 RSF press release in commemoration of the second anniversary of the murder of journalist José Luis Cabezas: Friday 22 January 1999 For immediate release Press Release Argentina: second anniversary of José Luis Cabezas’ death Reporters sans frontières expresses concern that investigators have been unable to identify […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – On 5 January 1999, several unknown individuals found their way onto the property of Bernardo Balbuena, editor of the daily “El Diario de Resistencia”, in the province of Chaco, and smashed an automobile belonging to him. Balbuena lives in the city of Corrientes (in northeastern Argentina, close to Resistencia), in an apartment protected […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – On 29 December 1998, journalist Carlos Alberto “Gary” Vila Ortiz was attacked by two men in the doorway of his home in the city of Rosario. The men threatened to rape him by inserting a screw in his scrotum. Vila Ortiz’ attackers were scared away by the appearance of several neighbourhood security guards, […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – In its 6 December 1998 issue, the daily newspaper “Página/12” noted that the police investigation into the Cabezas case will end on 22 December. According to the daily, Judge José Luis Macchi confirmed this information to one of the lawyers working on the case. “Practically nothing has been done in months. We will […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – Four officers with the ArgentinIan Air Force received suspensions of eight to thirty days for spying on ten journalists and one women’s organisation, futher to an internal investigation of the case. “A coordinators’ meeting was held to review concerns about this campaign which could affect national defence. We wanted to gather data on […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – On 23 November 1998, Periodistas reported on the following, a bomb threat and military spying on Argentine journalists: 22 November: A bomb threat was called into the daily “Clarín”. The call stating that a bomb had been placed in “Clarín”‘s building caused a commotion and Tacuarí street near Constitucion had to remain evacuated […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – If a bill which is in the works and which has been endorsed by the World Bank is successful in eventually moving through the Argentine legislature, Pedro Pou, head of the Argentine Central Bank, would have public funds at his disposal to take legal action against media who call into question the actions […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – Periodistas has made available the following review of Argentina’s most prominent legal rulings and legislative initiatives dealing with freedom of the press within the last month: 29 September 1998: The Senate’s Commission for Criminal Matters approved a 25 August report suggesting a draft law which calls for harsh penalties of up to three […]

(IAPA/IFEX) – In a 29 October 1998 protest letter, IAPA expressed concern at the detention of three journalists who were covering a story in the province of Misiones. Police officers arrested Emilio Petcoff, Enrique Sdrech and Mario Sacchi, all journalists with Buenos Aires-based Channel 3 television, on 24 October. Police never explained the reason for […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – On 28 August 1998, the Argentine Supreme Court granted the right of reply for the third time this year. The Court ordered a publisher to print a letter written by an individual who felt he was maligned by an article which appeared in one of the publisher’s magazines. The case was filed by […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – On 19 August 1998, journalist Olga Wornat was unexpectedly fired from hosting the radio programme “Horizonte Hoy”. Wornat had a signed contract with the radio station, FM Horizonte, ending 31 December, to host the show, which airs daily from 6 to 9 a.m. However, on 19 August, she received a call from the […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – On 20 August 1998, journalist Eduardo Aliverti was sentenced to pay an ex-civil servant damages in the amount of 50,000 pesos (US$50,000) stemming from a lawsuit. The verdict of the Buenos Aires Federal, Civil and Commercial Court (“Court III”) could signal another serious precedent regarding the exercise of freedom of expression in Argentina, […]

(IAPA/IFEX) – For several weeks now, the Minister of Justice and Security for the Province of Buenos Aires, Leon Arslanián, has withheld information concerning public security to journalists with “El Día” in La Plata, saying that the it is “a bad daily newspaper that publishes permanent and unnecessary attacks against me.” The minister’s action has […]

(RSF/IFEX) – On 1 February 1998, the residence of David Leiva, director of both Nueva Argentina radio and the San Ramon in the Nueva Oran (in the northern province of Salta) bimonthly “La Opinion” was the target of numerous gun shots. The journalist had received many death threats by phone and mail since the publication […]

(Periodistas/IFEX) – On 26 January 1998, a day after the massive public call for justice in the January 1997 murder of journalist Jose Luis Cabezas, Esteban Mac Allister, Vice-President of the photojournalists’ association, the Asociacion de Reporteros Graficos (ARGRA), received a threatening message on his Buenos Aires office answering machine. “You’re dead, you’re dead,” (“Has […]