Police seize newspapers and arrests journalist in Mato Grosso do Sul

Police officers seized about 850 copies of the weekly newspaper “Impacto Campo Grande”, in Mato Grosso do Sul, midwest of Brazil, on last Sunday, September 12nd.  The excuse for the seizure was that the articles were saying bad things about the governor André Puccinelli, candidate for reelection. Mário Pinto, journalist responsable for the newpaper distribution, was taken to the Police office.

"I was approached by police officers who took me under arrest on charges of ´disobedience`", says the journalist. According to Mário Pinto, there is a temporary restraining order prohibiting terms with negative connotations involving the governor and stipulated fine of $ 28,000 per issue if the newspaper did not respect the restriction.

According to the journalist, the newspaper had only reprinted articles already published on the local press, including material about the arrest of the mayor of Dourados, Ari Artuzi, during the operation Urugano of the Federal Police. The article entitled “Will Puccinelli´s ally maneuver the elections from jail?” indicated the mayor as electoral supporter of the governor.

The journalist was kept for about seven hours at the police office. He says he was interrogated and released after signing a term of behavior adjustment.

Abraji has contacted André Puccinelli´s press office by phone and email, but had no answer.