(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Rocío Vásquez Goicochea has informed the press that she has been receiving death threats in messages left on her mobile phone and telephone calls to her house. Until recently, Vásquez Goicochea was editor of “Últimas Noticias” newspaper in Chimbote, in the country’s northern Ancash region. In one of the messages, which was […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Rocío Vásquez Goicochea has informed the press that she has been receiving death threats in messages left on her mobile phone and telephone calls to her house. Until recently, Vásquez Goicochea was editor of “Últimas Noticias” newspaper in Chimbote, in the country’s northern Ancash region.
In one of the messages, which was left on the journalist’s mobile phone at 2:30 p.m. (local time) on 20 April 2004, the caller said, “Don’t forget you only have one life.”
Vásquez Goicochea told IPYS she believes the threats are linked to her investigation into allegations of illegal activities by businessmen involved in the fishing industry. Samuel Dyer, who is a friend of President Alejandro Toledo and a powerful figure within the ruling Perú Posible party, is among those the journalist has been investigating.
The Agenciaperu.com news agency, which produces “La Ventana Indiscreta” programme in Lima, contacted Vásquez Goicochea to obtain information regarding her investigation into the connection between Dyer and illegal fishing activities. The journalist had obtained documents and a video showing illegal activities that Dyer was allegedly involved in.
The video, which is currently in Agenciaperu.com’s possession, shows an unlicensed fishing boat unloading at the Copeinca company, with which Dyer is associated.
Vásquez Goicochea recently resigned from her position at the newspaper. According to the journalist, the newspaper’s owner had ordered her to stop investigating Dyer’s activities. She explained that the owner told her he had spoken to Dyer and had been told to stop meddling in Dyer’s affairs and publishing information against the government.
On 27 April, at 3:30 p.m., the journalist survived an attempt on her life. The incident occurred at a bus station, as she was about to board a bus to Lima for an interview on “En la Boca del Lobo” programme. Vásquez Goicochea told IPYS that the driver of a vehicle with tinted windows tried to run her over. The journalist managed to step out of the way but someone in the vehicle yelled at her, “You managed to escape, you bitch.”
