(IPYS/IFEX) – On 31 December 2003, Joel Valencia Palomino, a journalist, director of “El Eco Picotino” magazine and editor of the weekly “El Sol del Huallaga”, in the city of Picota, San Martín region, was assaulted by Picota Provincial Municipality Councillor Hugo Laurencio Rengifo Tello. Rengifo Tello is affiliated with the Partido Aprista Peruano political […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 31 December 2003, Joel Valencia Palomino, a journalist, director of “El Eco Picotino” magazine and editor of the weekly “El Sol del Huallaga”, in the city of Picota, San Martín region, was assaulted by Picota Provincial Municipality Councillor Hugo Laurencio Rengifo Tello. Rengifo Tello is affiliated with the Partido Aprista Peruano political party. Rengifo Tello’s brother, Felipe Rengifo Tello, also threatened to kill the journalist. Valencia Palomino is also a correspondent for the “Línea Abierta” programme broadcast on Radio San Martín radio station, which is based in the city of Tarapoto. He was bruised during the incident and his video camera was damaged.
According to information obtained by IPYS, Valencia Palomino had publicised and filed a complaint about the distribution among councillors and municipal workers of a shipment of clothes and shoes donated by the National Customs Service (Superintendencia Nacional de Aduanas). The shipment had been destined for delivery to the needy in the province. This was the last in a series of corrupt acts by the municipal administration that had been publicised on the radio and in “El Eco Picotino” and “El Sol del Huallaga”.
On 31 December, Valencia Palomino went to the municipal office to obtain information about the complaint that he had filed. He was approached by Councillor Rengifo Tello, who was among those implicated in the complaint. The councillor began to reprimand Valencia Palomino and then, without any further explanation, proceeded to verbally and physically attack him. Sub-prefect Alberto Paredes Pizarro, who was present during the incident, intervened.
In a conversation with IPYS, Rengifo Tello denied having assaulted Valencia Palomino. He admitted to having strongly reprimanded the journalist and making gestures with his hands that may have confused Valencia Palomino. He defended himself saying that the journalist is part of a group that has been waging a campaign against the current municipal administration.
Sub-prefect Paredes Pizarro told IPYS that he spoke to Rengifo Tello, calling his attention to the incident and telling him that his actions were not an appropriate way in which to resolve differences.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed that the police are investigating the incident and a 30-day time period has been established to bring the case before the prosecutor’s office. Sub-prefect Paredes Pizarro was cited as a witness and has provided a statement regarding the incident. Rengifo Tello, however, has not been summoned.
