(IFJ/IFEX) – On 4 September 2000, journalist Vicky Bazán Cossi, an editor with Radio Rimelsa in Majes, and correspondent with the daily “La República” and Canal Fénix television in the city of Camaná, cameraman Esmeregildo Paz Pinto and his assistant Alejandro Anconeyra Provincia were physically assaulted by police officers in the town of Majes, near […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – On 4 September 2000, journalist Vicky Bazán Cossi, an editor with Radio Rimelsa in Majes, and correspondent with the daily “La República” and Canal Fénix television in the city of Camaná, cameraman Esmeregildo Paz Pinto and his assistant Alejandro Anconeyra Provincia were physically assaulted by police officers in the town of Majes, near Arequipa. At the time, they were covering the evacuation of land plot #385 due to a lawsuit over the estate.
Bazán reported to the Human rights section for Latin America of the IFJ that at about 11:20 a.m. (local time), a contingent of officers arrived at the scene, on the order of Commander Luis Almanza. The officers were accompanied by about twenty hooded individuals who were armed with sticks and branches.
The officers forcibly entered the area, shooting into the air and throwing teargas bombs. These events were captured on video by the press. Upon noticing this, the officers set about grabbing the journalists’ materials and proceeded to attack Bazán, who had moments earlier identified herself as a correspondent for “La República”.
After the journalist’s friends came to her aide, Commander Almanza ordered the attack to cease and seized their filming and recording equipment. As a result, the journalists filed a complaint with the local police station, the police investigations unit and the ombudsman’s office.
As of 27 September, the police, under orders from Commander Almanza, had not returned either the video camera or the portable recorder. The journalists had, however, managed to safeguard the videotape which contains documentation of the event.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– calling for the return of the assaulted journalists’ equipment
– asking that the incident be investigated and the perpetrators of the attack be severely punished
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Blanca Nelida Colan Maguiño
Attorney General
Fax: +51 14 262 474 / 264 620
Jorge Santistevan De Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax: +51 14 267 800
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
