9 February 1998

Alert

Journalist threatened


Incident details

David Leiva

journalist(s)

threatened


(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 in mid-January of his articles concerning the
arrest of Eduardo Augusto. Augusto, a member of the regional Justicialista
party, was arrested during a military-run anti-drug campaign for possessing
over a kilo of cocaine. Another local politician, Walter Wayard, the
vice-governor of the region, had asked that Leiva receive extra protection
following his harassment.




This incident occurs just shortly after two other cases involving the
harassment of journalists in Argentina. On 26 January 1998, Esteban Mac
Allister, Vice-President of the photojournalist's association, the
Asociacion de Reporteros Craficos (ARGRA), received threatening phone calls
following a speech he had delivered the previous day at a protest rally held
in honor of Jose Luis Cabezas, a journalist murdered in 1997. On 27 January
1998, Gabriela Cerruti, a reporter for "Tres Puntos", received threatening
phone calls in connection with the publication of her article on the former
naval captain Alfredo Astiz (see IFEX alert of 30 January 1998).


Recommended Action


Send appeals to authorities:

  • reminding them that such harassment constitutes a serious attack on press
    freedom
  • demanding that they apprehend and punish the individuals responsible for
    such harassment without delay
  • asking them to use their influence to both provide Leiva, Mac Allister,
    and Cerruti with police protection




    Appeals To



    His Excellency Carlos Saul Menem
    President of Argentina
    Casa Rosada
    Buenos Aires, Argentina
    Fax: +54 1 331 6765







    Please copy appeals to the source if possible.





    • Source

    Reporters Without Borders
    47, rue Vivienne
    75002 Paris
    France
    rsf (@) rsf.org
    Phone: +33 1 44 83 84 84
    Fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51

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