The first raid occurred on October 2, 1998. Federal police from the precinct 21 station, raided Pub Gasoil New Generation, in Bulnes Street #1250 in the city of Buenos Aires. Forty persons were detained without motive. Activists with Comunidad Homosexual de Argentina (CHA), Marcelo Feldman and Norberto D'Amico, arrived forty minutes later and everyone had been released, without ever being formally charged and the bar had been closed down.

The second raid occurred at 2:00 in the morning on October 22, 1998. Under the order of Judge Facciutto of the 1st Correctional Jurisdiction (Juzgado Correccional) personnel from the 19th precinct police station forcefully entered the Pub "El Eterno" in Mansilla 2785 in the city of Buenos Aires, detaining more than 70 people for an infraction to the Law of Games and Prevention. At the time of the raid patrons at the bar where involved in a friendly bingo game with a price of a champagne bottle for the winner. When the raid began, film crews from Crónica TV, Channel 26 America TV and Telefe were present and filmed everyone who was detained and rebroadcast those images with titles that read "SEX BINGO".

Cesar Cigliutti from the Comunidad Homosexual Argentina arrived at the Police precinct where he was seen by Sub-Superintendent of Police Carlos Basualdo, who informed him that there was no police animosity or discrimination. This despite having 70 gays, lesbians and travestis detained at Police headquarters for playing bingo without any money. During the raid, the Channel 2 photographer, shouted insults to the persons detained. The Sub-Superintendent for Police reportedly told the press that the raid was performed to stop a bingo game where the prices included sexual relations with the winner.

The Comunidad Homosexual Argentina has presented the required legal complaints with the Ministry of the Interior and INADI against the judge, the police station and other persons engaged in this illegal and discriminatory act, the second such incident using tactics reminiscent of those common during the dictatorship. These complaints have not been answered. The city of Buenos Aires has an anti-discrimination ordinance that covers sexual orientation as one of the protected grounds (see ERN Vol 5, #5 and Vol 6, #1); unfortunately the federal police are not covered under this city law. Activists in Argentina are currently launching an effort to pass a national anti-discrimination law.

The Comunidad Homosexual Argentina requests that letters be sent to the following address demanding an immediate response to their complaints:

Subsecretaria De Derechos Humanos De La Nación Argentina Sra. Subsecretaria
Prof. Inés Pérez

Suárez Leandro N. Alem 150 PB
(1003) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Telefax: +54(01) 331-8896

Ministerio Del Interior

Sr. Ministro del Interior Dr. Carlos Corach Balcarce 50
(1064) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Telefax: +54(01) 331-4571

INADI - Centro de Denuncias

Callao 970 2° Piso
(1023) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fax: +54(01) 819-1762

Copies of the letter should also be sent to:

Comunidad Homosexual Argentina-- CHA

Bernardo de Irigoyen 118 Piso 1 Of. 3
Buenos Aires CP 1072
ARGENTINA
cha@ciudad.com.ar