(IPYS/IFEX) – On Saturday, 28 November 1998, at around midnight, six unknown men violently assaulted two journalists of the daily “La República” in Puno. Carlos Fernández and Felipe Gutiérrez were attacked as they headed to their homes. The assailants took a briefcase that contained documents related to several cases, a mobile phone with its battery […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On Saturday, 28 November 1998, at around midnight, six unknown
men violently assaulted two journalists of the daily “La República” in
Puno. Carlos Fernández and Felipe Gutiérrez were attacked as they headed to
their homes. The assailants took a briefcase that contained documents
related to several cases, a mobile phone with its battery pack and other
valuables. Fernández was able to run away from the attackers, but Gutiérrez
fared worse, receiving bruises to his face and back. Fernández went promptly
to the XII Police Region, but officers told him he would have to bring
charges at the police station in the main square. Police sources noted that
there is still no investigation into the case, and added that Fernández’s
report has not yet been transferred to the crime section of the police
station. After returning to their jobs, the journalists noted that the
attack had strengthened their resolve towards truthful reporting, rather
than scaring them from their work.
This is not the first attack against journalists in the city. Two other
reporters were also beaten over the last thirty days. On 28 October, there
was an attack against Roberto Quinto Morales, reporter for Radio Titicaca,
and on 3 November, Radio Constelacion journalist Flavio Tacca Aza was also
attacked. In the second case, the attackers told Tacca Aza as they beat him
that they would come back for him if he continued “saying what you say on
the radio.”
Background Information
These three cases have two things in common: each of the attacked
journalists had heavily criticized the Vamos Vecino movement (a governmental
group that put forward candidates for the past local elections) through
their media outlets. Also, reports of the attacks have not yielded results
regarding the assailants’ identities.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
three media outlets in Puno and providing them with proper guarantees of
safety
Appeals To
Col. Pantaleon Valdivia Flores
Provincial Chief of the National Police of Peru, Puno
Fax: +511 54 35 1971Dr. Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax: +511 426 6657Dr. César Collqui Vega
Sub-Prefect of Puno
Fax: +511 54 35 3330
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
