Human Rights Organizations repudiated Sergio Berni's sayings and the minister apologized

09/14/2020 - 18:25

• Clarín.com

• Politics

Human Rights Organizations on Monday repudiated the words of the Buenos Aires Minister of Security, Sergio Berni, who had stated that

"The statements made in

by the Minister of Security of the Province of Buenos Aires, Sergio Berni, referring to the" human rights sector "in a derogatory and stigmatizing way, offend our history and our struggle,"

They did so in a statement that bears the signatures, among other organizations, of

Among the signatories is not the Mothers Association, led by Hebe de Bonafini.

The statement of the human rights organizations against Sergio Berni

In the text they questioned that "their sayings cannot take place in

that has assumed such flags as fundamental pillars for the maintenance of democracy."

They also signed the communiqué Relatives of the disappeared and detained for political reasons;

Capital;

;

the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights, the Argentine League for Human Rights;

the Ecumenical Movement for Human Rights (MEDH);

the Good Memory Association;

the Argentine Historical and Social Memory Foundation and 

"Relatives and companions of the 12 from Santa Cruz" and the North Zone Memory Truth and Justice Commission also joined in.

Minutes after the statement,

apologized on his social networks and assured that his statements did not refer to Human Rights organizations, but to journalist Horacio Verbitsky.

It is worth a clarification.

When they ask me about Verbitsky, it is clear to me that I am not referring to history, nor to the struggles of human rights organizations, whom I respect, recognize and admire, I mean those who take advantage of those spaces to build their own career.

- Sergio Berni (@SergioBerniArg) September 14, 2020

"It is worth a clarification. When they ask me about Verbitsky, I am clear that I am not referring to history, nor to the struggles of human rights organizations, whom I respect, recognize and admire, I mean

, "said the minister.

And he added: "If someone felt offended or alluded to by my statements made yesterday, especially my respect for Mothers, Grandmothers, Children, and relatives of victims of the civic-military dictatorship. We owe them an important part of the reconstruction of the

".

On Sunday night, Berni gave an interview to channel A24 and stated that the Human Rights sector

get up at 7 in the morning, they like to charge five times more, travel and have a whiskey."

He also assured that he offered to manage the Department of Internal Affairs of the Buenos Aires Police, but that he never accepted a positive response.

"I have always offered it to the Human Rights sector, because I thought it was fine. None accepted. They did not accept because you have to work. Because the salary of a director is five or six times less than those who live from the State, giving talks , traveling, "said Berni.

The reference to Horacio Verbitsky alludes to previous statements by the journalist.

Verbitsky had assured that Berni

referring to the conflict unleashed with Buenos Aires.

He had also pointed out the "frivolity" of the provincial official and questioned the projection of his political construction.

"

; he has to go to the places where the police are," the journalist said then.