(IPYS/IFEX) – On 8 March 2009, journalist César Hildebrandt, director and host of RBC Televisión’s “El Perro del Hortelano” programme, said that he, along with his camera operator and journalist Rebeca Diz, had received threats after broadcasting a series of reports about Germán Cárdenas, an individual allegedly involved in illegal land transfers. The reports highlighted […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 8 March 2009, journalist César Hildebrandt, director and host of RBC Televisión’s “El Perro del Hortelano” programme, said that he, along with his camera operator and journalist Rebeca Diz, had received threats after broadcasting a series of reports about Germán Cárdenas, an individual allegedly involved in illegal land transfers. The reports highlighted links between Cárdenas and the ruling political party’s highest circles. The incident took place in Lima.
In a report aired on Hildebrandt’s programme, a group of individuals who are affiliated with Cárdenas are shown looking straight at the camera and demanding that Hildebrandt “rectify” the allegations he made about links between Cárdenas and the governing party. They said that if he does not fulfill their demand, they will go after him and take over the television station’s headquarters.
The link between Cárdenas and the current interior minister, Mercedes Cabanillas, a member of the ruling party, is established in the RBC Televisión reports. The reports also provide information about alleged links between Cárdenas and several pro-government congress members, and even President Alan García. In addition, 150 accusations against Cárdenas for seizure of lands, fraud, robbery, blackmail and unlawful association to commit a crime, among others, are outlined in detail in the reports.
IPYS condemns the threats against the “El Perro del Hortelano” team. The organisation also requests that the authorities take the threats into account in order to prevent anything from happening to the journalists.
