Photojournalist Association considers suing for aggression towards photographer

SANTIAGO. -  The National Photojournalist Association is currently considering filing a lawsuit against police officers and the city of Valparaíso for aggression towards photographer Victor Salas yesterday, allegedly in the hands of police, during rioting in Valparaíso that was motivated by the presidential address.

This was the information given to El Mercurio by the president of the organization, Max Montecinos, who added that although it is still not clear what the final decision will be, any legal action would also be backed by the Spanish agency EFE, which Salas belongs to, the Association of Journalists, as well as the Association of Foreign Correspondents in Chile.

According to Montecinos, the situation is “unfortunate since even though it is an isolated incident, we must bring attention to the fact that there have been a series of isolated incidents and public order cannot be used as an excuse for aggression towards the press.  It is unacceptable behavior”.

The association’s president said that he had visited the victim at the Clínica Alemana medical facility in Santiago yesterday and indicated that he seemed to be in better spirits.