(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders said it was appalled by the severe beating that photographer Leandro López of the local daily “El Sol” received at the hands of police officers on the grounds of the central police station in Concordia, a city in the eastern province of Entre Ríos on 10 October 2005. López sustained […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders said it was appalled by the severe beating that photographer Leandro López of the local daily “El Sol” received at the hands of police officers on the grounds of the central police station in Concordia, a city in the eastern province of Entre Ríos on 10 October 2005. López sustained facial injuries and his hearing was damaged by blows to the head.
“Violence of this kind is all the more unacceptable when it comes from those in authority,” the press freedom organisation said. “We are astonished that a week after this attack, the police officers involved are still on the job even though the provincial government pledged to suspend them. We call for this promise to be fulfilled at once and we request an investigation.”
As he left his newspaper’s offices at around 6 a.m. (local time) on 10 October, López noticed that a road accident had just taken place about 100 metres from the main police station. “I had my camera on my neck, as usual, so I went over to take some photos,” he told Reporters Without Borders. “But after firing a shot into the air, two policemen tried to stop me working by pushing me back and shouting at me.”
When López went to the police station a short time later to seek information about the accident, he was accosted by the same police officers. They shouted at him: “What shit are you getting into, you son of a bitch journalist?” Then they led him into a corridor and, in the presence of other police officers, hit him on the legs, stomach and head.
“They turned one eye to mush and they hit my left ear really hard,” López said. The three officers who took part in the attack then locked him in a cell. He was left with bruises all over his face and a perforated eardrum, resulting in a 40 per cent lost of hearing.
At around 10 p.m. (local time), López was able to get in touch with his lawyer, who finally attained his release at midnight. The police filed a complaint accusing him of “verbal assault” and resisting arrest. They also claimed that he was under the effects of alcohol, although he was not given a test. Provincial Governor Jorge Busti took López’s side in the matter and called for the suspension of the police officers.
