Serious Attack on Freedom of the Press in Macri’s Argentina

Statement from Network of Intellectuals, Artists and Social Movement in Defense of Humanity

July 4, 2016

TiempoArgentino-english (1)The Executive Secretariat of the Network of Intellectuals, Artists and Social Movements in Defense of Humanity condemns the aggression suffered by the workers of the newspaper Tiempo Argentino, whose office was violently attacked on the morning of Monday, July 4 by a gang that was guarded by the Federal Police of Argentina. In addition, the building of Radio America was damaged.

This attack on freedom of expression was planned. The perpetrators of the crime broke into the facility to stop the newspaper from going to print. They destroyed the internet connection and basic inputs that allow printing. In addition, they tore down and broke pictures of Rodolfo Walsh, the Argentine press worker who was disappeared because of his social and political commitment during the military dictatorship. This is an act of fascism and barbarism not seen since the arrival of democracy to the country in 1983.

The Network fervently condemns these acts, to which the Inter-American Human Rights Commission and the Inter-American Press Society have not said one word. We call upon the international community to be on alert to these types of violation of the rights of workers taking place in Mauricio Macri’s Argentina. We extend all our support to the workers of the self-managed Tiempo Argentino and Radio América.

Executive Secretariat of the Network of Intellectuals, Artists and Social Movements in Defense of Humanity