Argentine journalists repudiate trial by media, racism, and crackdowns on dissent

[sandensea]

In a joint statement, a number of leading Argentine journalist unions and independent media associations warn of deteriorating civil liberties conditions brought about by growing use of trial by media against opposition figures, appeals to racism, and crackdowns on dissent.

The statement, published yesterday, refers not only to the Mauricio Macri administration's use of security forces to quash protest and of the courts to intimidate critics; but also to right-wing media for "justifying and encouraging" police violence.

This trend was underscored in recent weeks by the August 1 death of artist Santiago Maldonado, who drowned as security forces charged a protest camp, and the November 25 death of Rafael Nahuel, who was shot in the back under similar circumstances.

Both men, one white and one of Mapuche descent, were taking part in peaceful demonstrations against encroachment on sacred Mapuche lands by foreign buyers.

Their deaths were, in both cases, followed by media attacks against the victims and the Mapuche people in general by Argentina's largely right-wing corporate news outlets - particularly the Clarín Group and its cable news unit TN, which were instrumental in Macri's narrow electoral victory two years ago.

"Indigenous peoples are being reframed as domestic enemies by feeding prejudice," the statement noted.

These smear campaigns, as well as those against opposition figures in politics and the media, were echoed by a well-financed "troll farm" working under the newly-created 'Undersecretary for Public Outreach' overseen by Macri Chief of Staff Marcos Peña.

Their social media posts and tweets, according to local social network consultant Pablo Sirvén, can account for up to 98% of posts appearing to side with the government in any given controversy.

Besides violence, opposition figures allege malicious prosecution and arbitrary detention.

Some of the best-known such cases include that of indigenous rights leader Milagro Sala, who was jailed without charges nearly two years ago and whose imprisonment is deemed arbitrary by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the UN, as well as the imprisonment of Congressman Julio de Vido and former Vice President Amado Boudou - neither of whom were under formal investigation by the courts.

All three, as well as former President Cristina Kirchner, have, however, faced years of corruption allegations on right-wing media - though no evidence has ever surfaced.

Numerous lawmakers and public figures, including some Macri allies, have pointed out that a double standard is being applied.

"Had the same standard been applied toward those currently in power," Carlos Pagni, a senior commentator for the conservative La Nación wrote in a recent editorial, "Macri and half his cabinet would be in jail."

At: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.infonews.com%2Fnota%2F312052%2Fmanifiesto-de-periodistas-contra-las-operaciones&edit-text=

[Judi Lynn]

1. Macri and his supporters are going full force, apparently.

It's completely telling to see the comment from an actual conservative commentator admitting that there is gross criminality being implemented by the fascist Macri and his cohorts.

What a shame Clarín and its cable outlets have been successful, still, after they did it for the Dirty War dictatorship, in retaining so much power they can destroy progressive presidents by spreading dirty propaganda and bolster the murdering thieves of the fascist conservative sector, even though it's far removed from the interests of the people.

When you can learn prominent conservatives are actually speaking out on the process, you know they are having pangs of conscience, fears of being seen as criminals, like the ones running the country. They are worried about their own images.

Pagni's image may be hidden six feet underground if he continues to speak out against Macri, and his minions, just as dead as if he were a human rights defender like Santiago Maldonado and Rafael Nahuel. His own life will have been spent praising the evil people in the world, as he lies under the soil covering true patriots, and martyrs.

Thank you, sandensea.

[sandensea]

2. The October mid-term results emboldened them.

They handled them very well, from a Machiavellian point of view: going massively into debt in order to temporarily bring the economy out of their own 2016 recession, and using the media to lead viewers to believe - the day before the elections - Santiago Maldonado had "died by accidental drowning" (the autopsy showed drowning as the cause of death, but was inconclusive as to the manner of death - i.e. his head could have been held down by force, as witnesses suggested).

Macri has menawhile been rapidly shutting down community radio stations - particularly indigenous radio stations.

That, plus his rescinding subsidies for any media not seen as supportive of the regime, has led to around 3,000 layoffs in Argentina's print and broadcast media sector (Latin America's third largest).

Not that he's been doing this to "save money" - on the contrary. Media subsidies rose by 122% in the first half of 2017 over the same time last year, to over $113 million (for just six months).

Cheeto must be taking notes.