The public news agency Télam repudiates the violent and cowardly attack of the photojournalist Alejandra Bartoliche, correspondent for Télam in Bariloche, by a mob of armed civilians during the journalistic coverage of the seventh March for Sovereignty of Lago Escondido, organized by the Interactive Foundation to Promote the Culture of Water (Fipca), among other entities.
The beating attack against the press worker occurred with the express intention to prevent him from carrying out his work of testifying about what was happening at that time in the place when dozens of people mobilized with the aim of accessing Lago Escondidowhere the mansion of businessman Joe Lewis is based, the British tycoon who prevents free movement through national territory, even ignoring the provisions of the Argentine Justice.
Bartoliche and nine other people were attacked by a group of thugs made up of suspected farmhands working for Lewiswho not only did they beat the photographer and the protesters, but they detained them depriving them of their freedom for more than two hoursa very serious action that refers to the darkest years of Argentine history.
This action is inadmissible in a democracy, so from Télam the necessary steps are being implemented to denounce what happened in court in order to identify and condemn their aggressors, as well as those responsible and heads of organizing and coordinating the mob that carried out the attack.
Added to this fact was another alarming piece of information denounced by those attacked and which must be investigated: the appearance of police officers in a private van together with two of the attackers who, in front of the uniformed officers, maintained their intimidating attitude.
It is not the first time that Argentina, in a democracy, has witnessed how a businessman acts protected by his economic power with the aim of preventing the work of the press and thus maintaining the framework of impunity that he displays, by making use of his own parastatal force through salaried employees.
Days before the attack on Bartoliche, the 26th anniversary of the murder of José Luis Cabezas, the well-remembered photojournalist who was assassinated by a task force made up of police officers and common criminals under the intellectual authorship of businessman Alfredo Yabrán, was celebrated.
On this occasion, given the magnitude of the attacks against Bartoliche, fortunately there was no regret that the photojournalist from Télam suffered even greater consequences for the damage she suffered.
What happened in Lago Escondido should not go unpunished because the victims of the attack deserve justice and democracy as well.
Finally, the Télam agency reiterates its solidarity and support for the press worker Alejandra Bartoliche, who is not the first time she has suffered threats or attacks for carrying out her work.
