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Criticism from the U.S. over attacks on the press
La Nacion
January 24, 2012

By Silvia Pisani

Human Rights Watch spoke of "pressure

The organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday warned in its annual report about the difficulties for freedom of expression in Argentina and the pressure exercised by the Casa Rosada over academics and journalists that report on the economy.

Considered one of the main NGOs on matters of the defense of human rights, the statement from HRW came in the midst of an escalation in the government of Cristina Kirchner towards controlling essential aspects of the exercise of the free press, among them, the production of paper.

"Official statistics on inflation have been widely questioned for the past several years, and several news outlets report inflation data from private consultants," said the report, which then mentioned the annoyance and pressures from the Casa Rosada. "One of the consultants ((which issues reports about the cost of living) was accused by the Commerce Secretary (Guillermo Moreno) of having committed fraud, conduct usually classified as a crime under Argentine legislation," the document said.

In the same fashion, the organization also echoed the judicial subpoenas to "identify" journalists and editors that "reported on the evolution of the economy" in the country from 2006 onward; the precise year when it became clear there was a divorce between what official statistics said and what the private ones said to the contrary.

Presented by the head of their Latin America office, Jos Miguel Vivanco, the document says, once again, there are "imprecisions" in the so-called Law of Media Regulation when defining the kind of "faults" that could bring "sanctions" by the authority which enforces the law.

It especially warns that those "imprecisions" include the sanctions that could include "revocation" of a broadcast license.

It is not the first time that HRW has spoken out. In its report last year there was mention of the "imprecisions" in the law approved by Congress, but this time it clearly listed the manifest implications that could begin to appear.

The report was issued before the announcement of the decision of Cristina Kirchner's government to make a move on the production, commercialization and importation of newsprint, the raw material for the freedom of the press. In the midst of criticism from international press associations, the Casa Rosada put control over it in the hands of Guillermo Moreno, who is also mentioned in the HRW report for his attacks on those who investigate the course of the country's economy.

In addition to the audiovisual media law which seeks to take apart journalistic group companies and the judicial actions pushed with the support of the Executive Branch to harass media outlets that are not friendly to official discourse, in recent months various acts of pressure were noted against the exercise of journalism.

Among them, the attempt to intervene against Cablevision and the general inhibition of LA NACION's assets, under orders of the Federal Administration of Public Revenue (AFIP).

They also verified para-official pressure against the media, like blockade by the truckers union of Clarin and LA NACION's printing plants.

Democratic legislators warned the Capitol about pressures against the exercise of freedom of the press in the country, among them,, New Jersey Sen. Robert Men ndez, for whom the matter is one of "basic rights of societies that should be respected by governments" to ensure democratic quality.

History of an NGO

Human Rights Watch has a history of profound activism in our country, where it gained recognition from, among others, members of Cristina Kirchner's government.

Especially Foreign Minister H ctor Timerman, who was part of the entity, which functioned as a platform to denounce the kidnapping of his father, Jacobo Timerman, during the military government.

More recently, during the Bill Clinton era, HRW had a preponderant role in denouncing the violations of human rights in former Yugoslavia. During the presidency of George W. Bush, it questioned the persecutory policies against immigrants by the Republican ex-president.

Human Rights Watch has worked for human rights at the global level for 30 years.

In the chapter referring to Argentina, the American group yesterday referred to the progress in prosecuting violations of human rights during the military government.

It said, however, there were delays in the appeals process and recalled that witness Jorge Julio L pez disappeared during the presidency of the late President Nestor Kirchner.

A bricklayer, L pez was to testify in September of that year as a witness in the case against ex-policeman Miguel Etchecolatz. But he never appeared, as he'd disappeared hours before the hearing. Since then, no one has seen or heard from him.

Other countries

Widely respected in the region, the report by HRW has generated, in recent hours, anger from various governments. Among them, Mexico, Venezuela and Ecuador.

In the case of Mexico, it reproached the "lightness" in attributing more than 40,000 deaths of people since 2006 to "internecine drug trafficking killings". "We don't understand how the (Mexican) government argues that 90% of the deaths are drug traffickers that kill each other. How can they argue that, when there are no investigations?" Vivanco asked.

The HRW report also disturbed the government in Venezuela, over suspicions in its electoral campaign. "It's fundamental that the international community closely follow the electoral developments in Venezuela so that, at least, a warning voice can be raised and to be aware of manipulations," said Vivanco.

It also objected to Ecuador over the dangers that exist there on matters of freedom of expression.

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