In the early morning of 8 November 2012, several copies of the newspaper Hoy, based in La Plata, were burned. A kiosk that sells the paper in Buenos Aires was completely destroyed by a fire after vendors working for the paper's distribution company received threats.
(FOPEA/IFEX) – 9 November 2012 – In the early morning of 8 November 2012, several copies of the newspaper Hoy, based in La Plata, were burned when a kiosk that sells the paper in Buenos Aires was completely destroyed by a fire.
An Hoy editorial team member, Juan Gossen, told FOPEA that the attack happened after copies of the paper had been distributed to the kiosk. The fire is being considered an attack on the newspaper because this type of kiosk sells Hoy almost exclusively. According to the newspaper, numerous people were seen near a van using a flammable substance to set fire to the stall, which was destroyed.
Distribution of Hoy is managed by the Redcoop cooperative, which told the paper that their newspaper vendors in the region had received threats. “Some groups have threatened us, saying that if we did not remove Hoy advertisement posters from the kiosks, they would burn them down. Evidently, this is what they have done,” said Redcoop. The stalls feature posters of the newspaper’s front pages.
Gossen told FOPEA that the newspaper had filed a report with the police inspector, with the help of the La Plata prosecutor’s office.
In July FOPEA reported on serious attacks on Hoy delivery staff.
FOPEA calls on local authorities to take action to guarantee freedom of the press and Hoy‘s ability to carry out its work, and to find those responsible.
